Effects of Peer Support and Progressive Relaxation Exercises on Sleep Quality and Anxiety

The effect of peer support and progressive relaxation exercise programs on midwifery students' sleep and anxiety levels in the COVID-19 pandemic was investigated in the present research. One hundred and four subjects were found eligible for the study according to the inclusion criteria, and they were grouped into three: the peer support program group (PSP) (n=34), the progressive relaxation exercise group (PRE) (n=35), and control group (n=35). The PRE group was given an online relaxation exercise program. The PSP group was given an online peer support program. The data collection tools included a descriptive data form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I-II), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The scores of the groups that they obtained from the pre-test application of the STAI-I and PSQI did not yield a statistically significant difference. The scores that PRE and PSP groups obtained from the post-test application of the STAI-I and PSQI were lower than the score that was obtained by the control group on the post-test application of the measures, and difference was evaluated to be significant. Although the mechanisms of action of these two methods are different, it has been observed that they have similar effects in improving anxiety levels and sleep quality.