Table 4.
Pre- and postintervention changes at baseline and end of study period.
| Group and parameter | Pretest, mean (SD) | Posttest, mean (SD) | t testa (df) | P valueb | % change in mean values | Effect size (Cohen d) | ||||||
| Intervention group | ||||||||||||
|
|
Perceived Stress Scale score | 19.71 (5.09) | 16.29 (4.83) | 3.661 (33) | <.001 | –17.35% | 0.628 | |||||
|
|
Composite DASS-21c score | 21.15 (9.56) | 15.41 (7.87) | 3.679 (33) | <.001 | –27.14% | 0.631 | |||||
|
|
Depression subcomponent score of the DASS-21 | 5.35 (3.32) | 3.82 (3.19) | 2.430 (33) | .02 | –28.60% | 0.417 | |||||
|
|
Anxiety subcomponent score of the DASS-21 | 6.59 (3.25) | 4.71 (2.97) | 2.910 (33) | .006 | –28.53% | 0.499 | |||||
|
|
Stress subcomponent score of the DASS-21 | 8.91 (3.94) | 6.47 (3.10) | 3.310 (33) | .002 | –27.38% | 0.568 | |||||
|
|
DHEA-Sd levels | 251.71 (80.98) | 302.74 (123.56) | –3.317 (33) | .002 | 20.27% | 0.369 | |||||
|
|
IL-6e levels | 4.93 (1.35) | 3.67 (1.00) | 4.089 (33) | <.001 | –25.56% | 0.701 | |||||
| Control group | ||||||||||||
|
|
Perceived Stress Scale score | 21.87 (4.64) | 20.58 (6.46) | 1.040 (30) | .31 | –6% | 0.187 | |||||
|
|
Composite DASS-21 score | 22.42 (9.88) | 26.13 (9.68) | –2.146 (30) | .04 | 17% | –0.385 | |||||
|
|
Depression subcomponent score of the DASS-21 | 6.00 (3.40) | 6.77 (4.04) | –1.219 (30) | .23 | 13% | –0.219 | |||||
|
|
Anxiety subcomponent score of the DASS-21 | 7.77 (4.20) | 9.48 (3.35) | –2.394 (30) | .02 | 22% | –0.430 | |||||
|
|
Stress subcomponent score of the DASS-21 | 8.65 (3.73) | 9.19 (3.36) | –0.724 (30) | .47 | 6% | –0.130 | |||||
|
|
DHEA-S levels | 285.33 (112.14) | 309.90 (136.90) | –1.691 (30) | .10 | 9% | –0.304 | |||||
|
|
IL-6 levels | 4.52 (1.40) | 2.72 (1.74) | 4.179 (30) | <.001 | –40% | 0.750 | |||||
aPaired t test, confidence level 95%.
bP<.05/4 was considered statistically significant.
cDASS-21: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale.
dDHEA-S: dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.
eIL-6: interleukin-6.