Effect of Self-Foot Reflexology massage on Depression,
Stress Responses and Immune Functions of Middle Aged
Women*
Lee, Yun-Mi1)
1) Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Inje University
Purpose: This study was aimed to identify the effects of a self-
foot reflexology massage on depression, stress responses
and functions of the immune system of middle-aged women.
Method: This study was a one group pretest-posttest
experimental design and the data was collected from August
1st, 2004 to May 31st, 2005. The subjects consisted of 46
middle-aged women (40 - 64 years) who were recruited from
the Community Health Center in Busan city. Subjects were not
treated for 4 weeks, subsequently they were trained in self foot
reflexology massage for 2 weeks, and then they did their own
daily for 6weeks (2 days at the research center, 5 days at
home).The outcome variables were measured 4 times, at
baseline, pre training, after training, and after the intervention.
The collected data was analyzed using repeated measure
ANOVA by the SPSS/WIN program. Result: There was a
statistically significant difference in depression, perceived
stress, systolic blood pressure, natural-killer cells and Ig G.
However, there was not a statistically significant difference in
dyastolic blood pressure, pulse or serum cortisol. Conclusion:
These results suggest that a self-foot reflexology massage
could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to reduce
depression and stress responses, and to strengthen immune
systems in middle-aged women.
Key words : Depression, Foot reflexology, Stress response,
Immune function, Middle aged women
