The Holistic Effect of Complementary Interventions in Reducing Stress in College Students

The purpose of this research was to examine the holistic effects of combined complementary therapies in reducing stress in college students. This convergent mixed-method study provided aromatherapy, massage, and meditation music sessions to college students (N = 50) just before finals week. Paired t-tests analyzed pre-session and post-session perceived stress and anxiety as well as objective physiological measures, including salivary cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure. There was a significant difference in the scores for perceived stress before and after the sessions, t(49) = 4.72, p <.001, as well as pre-anxiety and post-anxiety, t(49) = 10.27, p <.001. Additionally, salivary cortisol levels significantly reduced from pre-session to post-session t(49) = 2.76, p =.008; and a significant reduction in heart rate from pre-session to post-session, t(49) = 3.73, p <.001. This study demonstrates that 20 min of brief complementary interventions can alter students’ subjective holistic health perspectives, with objective physiological data confirming changes that promote health and wellbeing.