Effectiveness of Progressive Muscle Relaxation in managing Adjustment Disorder among apparel sector employees in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The apparel sector takes place among the largest industries in Sri Lanka, occupying 15% of the country‘s labour force. The target-oriented nature of the apparel sector often requires employees to work under pressure for extensive hours. Hence, work-related stress is highly prevalent among apparel sector employees, hindering their mental well-being. Adjustment Disorder (AjD) is one such health problem faced by employees in work settings where higher efficiency and productivity are expected within limited time frames. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), a widely-used tool for the effective management of stress-related disorders, including AjD. However, no studies have been conducted on using PMR to manage AjD in Sri Lanka. Therfore, this study aims at exploring the effectiveness of PMR in managing AjD among apparel sector employees in Sri Lanka. A quasiexperimental design was employed, with 91 participants being allocated to the experimental (n=45) and control group (n=46). The intervention consisted of PMR exercises conducted over 8 weeks. PMR and control groups completed the Adjustment Disorder-New Module 20 (ADNM-20) questionnaire at baseline and after the intervention period. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed that the PMR group elicited a statistically significant decrease in mean ADNM-20 scores from pre-intervention to post-intervention (p=0.03), while the control group elicited a significant increase in mean scores (p<0.001). The significant reduction in ADNM-20 scores following the intervention in the experimental group demonstrates the efficacy of PMR in managing AjD. Extensive studies are required to assess the practicability of using PMR as the gold standard for treating AjD.