Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume 1, Issue 2 , Pages 65-69, January 1997

Effects of sexual abuse are lessened by massage therapy

Received August 1996; received in revised form September 1996; accepted October 1996.

Abstract 

Women (mean age = 35 years) who had experienced sexual abuse, were given a 30-minute massage twice a week for 1 month. Immediately after the massage the women reported being less depressed and less anxious and their salivary cortisol levels decreased following the session. Over the 1-month treatment period the massage therapy group experienced a decrease in depression and in life event stress. Although the relaxation therapy control group also reported a decrease in anxiety and depression, their stress hormones did not change, and they reported an increasingly negative attitude toward touch.

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PII: S1360-8592(97)80002-2

doi:10.1016/S1360-8592(97)80002-2

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
Volume 1, Issue 2 , Pages 65-69, January 1997

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