The Effectiveness of Relaxation Therapy Training on Academic Stress in First Year Students Facing Ma'had Exams

Abstract

Academic stress leading up to final exams can trigger biological and psychological symptoms that interfere with learning. This study aims to examine the effect of relaxation therapy training on stress in freshmen students at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang facing their final semester exams. The study used a one-group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 25 second-semester students who attended the training and had complete pretest and posttest data. The intervention consisted of relaxation training (deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation) for approximately 2 hours, including brief psychoeducation, demonstrations, and guided exercises. Stress levels were measured using a 32-item scale based on biological and psychological aspects. Analysis used the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. The results showed that changes in stress scores before and after the training were not statistically significant (Z = -1.010; p = 0.312; N = 25). This finding indicates that the single-session training has not shown a measurable impact on stress reduction. Implications and recommendations for further research are discussed, including the need for a longer intervention duration, monitoring adherence to self-exercise, and a design with a control group.