Title: The Effects 0 / Massage Therapy on Autonomic Nervous System Activity, Anxiety, and Stature in Anxious Individuals. Graduate Degree / Major: MS Applied Psychology

Introduction: Massage therapy (MT) research has consistently shown that MT is effective in reducing anxiety; however the causal mechanism(s) of this effect is unknown. This study seeks to gain a further understanding of physical and physiological changes associated with the reduction of anxiety. Method: Seven clinically anxious female college students between the ages of 18-26 completed the study. Participants attended a total of six sessions broken down to four MT sessions and two control sessions. Trait anxiety and attitude towards MT were measured prior to the start and immediately following the first and sixth sessions. State anxiety and stature were measured immediately before and after all sessions. Electrodermal (EDA) and heart rate, indicators of the sympathetic nervous system, were measured continuously during all sessions. Stature was measured before and after all sessions and compared to corresponding levels of anxiety. Stature and state anxiety were compared both within and across MT and control sessions. Results: Trait anxiety was significantly reduced from the start to the completion of the study. State anxiety significantly decreased pre to post for both MT and control sessions. The decrease in state anxiety was significantly greater for MT sessions than control sessions. Heart rate decreased significantly more for MT sessions than control sessions. Electrodermal activity was significantly higher during MT sessions than control sessions. There were no significant difference pre-post differences in stature between MT and control sessions. There was a significant negative relationship between stature and state.