Open Access, Peer-reviewed
eISSN 2093-758X
    J Korean Acad Nurs. 2015 Aug;45(4):587-594. Korean.
    Published online Aug 31, 2015.
    https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.4.587
    © 2015 Korean Society of Nursing Science
    Original Article

    Effects of Foot-Reflexology Massage on Fatigue, Stress and Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Women

    Mi Son Choi,1 and Eun Ja Lee2
      • 1Graduate School of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.
      • 2College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.
    • Address reprint requests to: Lee, Eun Ja. College of Nursing, Gachon University, 191 Hambakmoe-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21936, Korea. Tel: +82-32-820-4209, Fax: +82-32-820-4201, Email: ejlee@gachon.ac.kr
    Received February 27, 2015; Revised March 05, 2015; Accepted May 18, 2015.

    This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

    Abstract

    Purpose

    To identify the effects of foot reflexology massage on fatigue, stress and depression of postpartum women.

    Methods

    A nonequivalent control group pre-post design was used. A total of 70 women in a postpartum care center were recruited and were assigned to the experimental group (35) or control group (35). Foot reflexology massage was provided to the experimental group once a day for three days. Data were collected before and after the intervention program which was carried out from December, 2013 to February, 2014. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test.

    Results

    The level of fatigue in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.74, p =.008). The level of cortisol in the urine of women in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.19, p =.032). The level of depression in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 3.00, p =.004).

    Conclusion

    The results show that the foot reflexology massage is an effective nursing intervention to relieve fatigue, stress, and depression for postpartum women.

    Keywords
    Foot; Massage; Fatigue; Cortisone; Postpartum depression

    Tables

    Table 1
    Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics (N=70)

    Table 2
    Homogeneity Test for Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum Care (N=70)

    Table 3
    Homogeneity Test for Dependent Variables between Two Groups (N=70)

    Table 4
    Differences in Fatigue, Cortisol, and Postpartum Depression between Two Groups (N=70)

    Notes

    This manuscript is a condensed form of the first author's master's thesis from Gachon University.

    References

      1. Lee DJ. In: The effect of aromatherapy on postpartum mothers' body weight, depression and stress [master's thesis]. Jeonju: Jeonju University; 2011.
      1. Song JE. Influencing factors of postpartum depression between 4 to 6 weeks after childbirth in the postpartum women. Korean J Women Health Nurs 2009;15(3):216–223. [doi: 10.4069/kjwhn.2009.15.3.216]
      1. Kim SJ, Jeong GH, Kim EH. Mothers perception of fatigue in postpartum period. Korean J Women Health Nurs 2001;7(4):461–472.
      1. Lee JY. In: Fatigue, parenting stress and sleep patterns of women according to period of postpartum [master's thesis]. Daegu: Keimyung University; 2006.
      1. Choi SY, Gu HJ, Ryu EJ. Effects of fatigue and postpartum depression on maternal perceived quality of life (MAPP-QOL) in early postpartum mothers. Korean J Women Health Nurs 2011;17(2):118–125. [doi: 10.4069/kjwhn.2011.17.2.118]
      1. Shin HS, Ryu KH, Song YA. Effects of laughter therapy on postpartum fatigue and stress rsponses of postpartum women. J Korean Acad Nurs 2011;41(3):294–301. [doi: 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.3.294]
      1. Assel MA, Landry SH, Swank PR, Steelman L, Miller-Loncar C, Smith KE. How do mothers' childrearing histories, stress and parenting affect children's behavioural outcomes? Child Care Health Dev 2002;28(5):359–368.
      1. Lee YE, Kang YH, Park HS, Kang IS. The relationship of stress and infant perception of mothers in postpartum period. Korean Parent Child Health J 2006;9(2):91–100.
      1. Ahn OS, Oh WO. Relationship among postpartum depression, parenting stress and self-esteem in mothers during puerperium. J Korean Soc Matern Child Health 2006;10(1):58–68.
      1. Bang KS. Infants' temperament and health problems according to maternal postpartum depression. J Korean Acad Nurs 2011;41(4):444–450. [doi: 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.4.444]
      1. Wang MJ, Kim JA, Lee JO, Lee AH, Lee CH, Cha NH. In: Foot management for health promotion. Seoul: Hyunmoonsa; 2002.
      1. Mackey BT. Massage therapy and reflexology awareness. Nurs Clin North Am 2001;36(1):159–170.
      1. Kim JO, Kim IS. Effects of aroma self-foot reflexology massage on stress and immune responses and fatigue in middle-aged women in rural areas. J Korean Acad Nurs 2012;42(5):709–718. [doi: 10.4040/jkan.2012.42.5.709]
      1. Lee YM. Effects of self-foot reflexology on stress, fatigue, skin temperature and immune response in female undergraduate students. J Korean Acad Nurs 2011;41(1):110–118. [doi: 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.110]
      1. Cho GY, Park HS. Effects of 6-week foot reflexology on the blood pressure and fatigue in elderly patients with hypertension. J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs 2004;11(2):138–147.
      1. Song MR, Song HM. The effects of foot reflexology on ADL and fatigue in stroke patients. Korean J Rehabil Nurs 2005;8(2):139–148.
      1. Jung YR. In: Foot reflexology. Seoul: Taiwoong; 1997.
      1. Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry 1987;150:782–786.
      1. Kim JI. A validation study on the translated Korean version of the Edinbergh Postnatal Depression Scale. Korean J Women Health Nurs 2006;12(3):204–209.
      1. Kim GD. In: Meta-analysis on the foot reflexology intervention program [dissertation]. Daegu: Kyungpook National University; 2009.
      1. Jang SH, Kim KH. Effects of self-foot reflexology on stress, fatigue and blood circulation in premenopausal middle-aged women. J Korean Acad Nurs 2009;39(5):662–672. [doi: 10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.662]
      1. Ko YS, Park MK. Effects of self-foot reflexology on fatigue and sleep states in women nurses. Korean J Women Health Nurs 2007;13(1):21–27.
      1. Lee YM, Sohng KY. The effects of foot reflexology on fatigue and insomnia in patients suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis. J Korean Acad Nurs 2005;35(7):1221–1228.
      1. Park S, Kim D. Relationship between physiological response and salivary cortisol level to life stress. J Ergon Soc Korea 2007;26(1):11–18.
      1. Kim KS, Won JS, Jeong lS, Choi WH, Kang JY. Effect of foot reflexology on the vital signs, blood cortisol, lymphocytes and natural killer cell of female cancer patients. J Korean Biol Nurs Sci 2004;6(1):5–15.
      1. Eom MR, Kim EK, Oh HY, Kim HS, Kwak KH. The effects of self foot reflexology on depression, sleep and low back pain in community dwelling elderly women. J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs 2008;15(4):504–512.
      1. Yang HJ, Kang HY, Kim IS. The effects of aroma foot reflex massage on sleep, depression and problem behaviors on elderly with dementia. Korean J Adult Nurs 2011;23(6):574–583.
      1. Oh HS, Ahn SA. The effects of foot reflexology on pain and depression of middle-aged women with osteoarthritis. Korean J Rehabil Nurs 2006;9(1):25–33.
      1. Kim KE, Choi JH, Kim YH. Effect of infant health problem, mother's depression and marital relationship on infant abuse in Korea: Mediating pathway of marital relationship. Asian Nurs Res 2014;8(2):110–117. [doi: 10.1016/j.anr.2014.05.001]
      1. Youn JH, Jeong IS. Predictors of postpartum depression: Prospective cohort study. J Korean Acad Nurs 2013;43(2):225–235. [doi: 10.4040/jkan.2013.43.2.225]
    Cited by
    Crossref 22
    Google Scholar 
    PubMed Central 4
    Scopus 20
    Web of Science 19
    MeSH Terms
    Fatigue*
    Massage*
    Stress, Psychological*
    Adult
    Depression, Postpartum/prevention & control*
    Female
    Foot
    Humans
    Hydrocortisone/blood
    Infant, Newborn
    Male
    Postpartum Period/psychology*
    Surveys and Questionnaires
    Metrics
    Share
    Links to
    Tables
    slide
    slide
    slide
    slide

    1 / 4

    PERMALINK