The Influence of Yoga, Humour, and Reading on a Person - Essay Example

Primary resources Research articles are reports on investigations that aim at developing new knowledge base on s. They follow a systematic format with identified essential elements. This paper reviews elements of the article, ‘Stress management strategies for Students: The immediate effects of Yoga, humour, and Reading, on Stress,’ authored by Denise, Pinto, Doreen, and Susan. The purpose of the research research aimed at exploring the effects of three behavioural activities, “yoga, humour, and reading” on the level of stress suffered by a class of students (Denise, et al, 2009, p. 1). This defines the purpose of the research as the determination of the impacts of the three behavioural activities on the student’s level of stress (Denise, 2009).

Applied methods in conducting the researchThe research used 22 students, from two schools in Seton Hall University, who volunteered to participate. The participants were subjected to a survey in which every individual participated in the three behavioural activities. The activities were conducted at regular intervals every week for three weeks. The methods also applied randomization in its treatment processes. Different tools such as “daily stress inventory,” “systolic blood pressure,” “diastolic blood pressure,” and “heart rate” were used as stress indicators (Denise, 2009, p. 1). The researchers however failed to report on their data collection tool.

How the research was conducted The research process involved scheduled visits by the participants to the screening centre where measures were taken to evaluate the inclusion criteria for participation. Students who passed the inclusion criterion then filled in baseline scales before they were grouped for treatment. Measurements were then taken on stress level followed by treatment and a final measurement, 10 minutes after treatment. Results were then separately analyzed for each participant. The process was then repeated at the same time and day of the week for three weeks with data collection and analysis being conducted on the same day.

Participants were subjected to all treatments (Denise, 2009). Research resultsThe baseline test before the treatments indicates a normal average value. The article also reports on the reviewed demographic factors about the participants regarding activities and medications in which they were involved. Such factors are represented in percentages with higher percentages reported in prescription medicine at 36 per cent, physical exercise reported among 77 per cent of the participants and drinking was reported among 54 per cent of the participants.

Results of the measured stress indicators identified a general trend in the reduction of stress (Denise, 2009). Conclusions of the researchIn its discussion, the article identifies the significance of the behaviours in reducing stress among students. The research’s conclusion also identifies the significance of stress among students in medical colleges and the lack of measures to detect and manage such stress. It further identifies stress at the college level as one of the factors towards burnout in the medical profession.

Similarly, the conclusion notes that dealing with stress can effectively control its effects on students and in their later professional lives (Denise, 2009). Personal reaction (conclusion) to the article I would give the researchers a grade of A. This is because the article contains all the essential elements of a research article and the researchers effectively explored the sections (Potter, 2006; Hemmens and Walsh, 2010).