Summary: Single Subject Design Stress Study

Single Subject Design Stress Study
The model that was used for this analysis is known as the AB design, which measures the dependent variable during the baseline (A) and the intervention phase (B) (Krysik and Finn, 2013). The study was conducted over an 11week period, with the first 6 weeks being the baseline (A) for the study, which was based on the level of stress that occurred each week. Due to the limitation of miscommunication the intervention phase (B) could only be conducted for a 5-week period; falling short by one week of measurement of the intervention phase. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), is an instrument used to measure stress levels, the validity of this study allowed for evaluation and recording of weekly levels of stress. The intervention that was used daily to promote lower stress levels was relaxation time with deep breathing. This type of study had no reliability outcomes due to the changing in stress levels daily.
During the first 5 weeks, the Perceived Stress Scale indicated that the stress levels were adequately high during this time period without any type of intervention.
The indication of the stress level in the first week was recorded as the need to develop a stabilizing routine for personal life and school assignments. The high peak noted at week three was indicated as an emotional situation that concerned a dear family member's deteriorating health condition. Weeks four and five displayed that there was still a high level of stress, but that there seems to be a slight drop, possibly due to stabilizing a better routine. At week 6, the final baseline measurement reveals a significant drop in stress, when checking the Perceived Stress Scale for that week, it indicated the level of stress was lower due to receiving an engagement
ring.
The intervention phase was introduced at week 7, the intervention used was related to yoga with relaxation time with deep breathing. The intervention used in this stress study consisted of a 10-minute break to relax, proper intervals of deep breathing,to promote the ability to focus better. According to Food & Fitness Advisor (2006), gentle yoga is related to deep breathing techniques and is great for relieving stress.This type of yoga focuses on slow long stretches as well deep breathing to promote relation. Shirley Archer, a spokesperson for “IDEA's BODY--MIND—SPIRIT,” a certified yoga, and Pilates teacher, as well as a body-mind-skills specialist, also states that a small study conducted with sixty-four medical students, over a 2-year period, revealed students feeling less anxiety, nervousness, and loss of concentration when using deep breathing technique in their daily lives, and feel it would be a valuable asset in the field of physicians. According to the Perceived Stress scale, week 7 displayed a slight increase with adapting to the intervention but is still visibly noticeable of the lower stress level prior to the intervention phase. Weeks 8,9,10 and 11 displays a significant drop in stress level with using an intervention. It would be correct to state that the use of deep breathing intervention was significantly useful in decreasing stress levels in this study.
According to the stress mean average of the baseline, it was calculated at 29.66667, with the standard deviation of 9.352362, with the results of 20.31431 being one below the standard deviation and 10.96194 being two below the standard deviation. These figures portray that the intervention was not a success in this study, but that the intervention did display a significant decrease in stress levels. A possibility of why the intervention was not a success could relate to a recent study conducted by George Kannaiah Sellakumar (2015), the study explored the effect of slow deep breathing and reducing the level of anxiety and stress in males and females. The study revealed a significant decrease in the level of stress among male participant after the intervention compared to the level displayed in female participants.