Vol. 2, Issue 8, Part I (2016)

Methods: Quantitative approach, Pre-experimental one group pre-test post test study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Guided imagery on stress with 40 spouses of alcoholics at de-addiction ward in Government Rajaji hospital, Madurai. Non probability Purposive sampling technique was used and the data was collected by DASS Stress scale with interview technique before and after Guided imagery. Study subjects were given with Guided imagery technique once a day for 20 minutes for the period of 7 days.

Results: Before Guided imagery 14(35%) and 26(65%) respectively belonged to the category of mild and moderate stress with the mean score of 17.36 and 21.81 and no one had severe and extreme stress. After intervention, 17(42.5%) and 23(57.5%) respectively belonged to the category of No stress and mild stress with the mean score of 12.18 and 15.78 and none of them had moderate, severe and extreme stress. The overall pre-test mean score was 20.25 and for the post test is 14.25. There was a significant difference in the mean score of stress before and after Guided imagery i.e the calculated ‘t’ value was 19.613 and it was statistically significant at 0.05 level. Further there was no any significant association between the stress score and selected demographic variables.

Conclusion: Thus, study finding concludes that Guided imagery was cost effective, noninvasive, non pharmacological complementary and alternative therapy to reduce the level of stress among spouse of alcoholics.