Effects of Group-delivered Stress-reduction Guided Imagery on Salivary Cortisol, Salivary Amylase, and Stress Mood in Urban, Predominantly Latino Adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: To determine acute effects of stress-reduction guided imagery delivered in group format on stress biomarkers salivary cortisol and salivary amylase, and on self-reported stress mood, in healthy, predominantly Latino adolescents. Study Design: 111 adolescent participants (94% Latino), a subset from a large, randomized controlled lifestyle intervention to improve obesity-related health behaviors, received either 4 weekly lifestyle education sessions (Lifestyle group; LS) or the same weekly lifestyle education sessions plus an additional weekly stress-reduction guided imagery session delivered in group format (Guided imagery group; GI). Salivary cortisol, salivary amylase, and self-reported stress moods were assessed before and after sessions on intervention weeks 3 and 4. Statistics: Linear mixed effects models examined within- and between-session and group differences in pre- to post-session changes. Results: Both groups showed decreases in salivary cortisol, 5% decrease in LS group and 32% in GI group (within-group differences all P