Wanda Anggun Frasetiya Ningrum, Anastasia Suci Sukmawati, Suwarno

Intervensi Aromaterapi Sereh untuk Menurunkan Tingkat Stress Lanjut Usia

Introduction

Intervensi aromaterapi sereh untuk menurunkan tingkat stress lanjut usia. Studi ini menemukan bahwa aromaterapi sereh (lemongrass) efektif menurunkan tingkat stres pada lansia. Terbukti signifikan mengurangi stres lansia di BPSTW Yogyakarta. Terapi non-farmakologi untuk kesejahteraan psikologis.

Abstract

Background: Stress is one of the psychological problems frequently experienced by the elderly due to physical, social, and emotional changes associated with aging. High stress levels can reduce quality of life and increase the risk of physical and mental health problems. One of the non-pharmacological methods to reduce stress is lemongrass aromatherapy (Cymbopogon citratus), which contains citral and geraniol compounds known for their calming effects and ability to lower cortisol levels. Objective: To determine the effect of lemongrass aromatherapy on stress levels among the elderly at BPSTW Yogyakarta Unit Budi Luhur. Method: The study used a pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design. The population consisted of 80 elderly residents, with 57 respondents selected using stratified random sampling. The instrument used was the DASS-42 questionnaire to measure stress levels before and after the intervention. The intervention was conducted using lemongrass aromatherapy via a reed diffuser twice daily for two weeks. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Results: Before the intervention, most respondents experienced moderate stress with an average score of 16.7. After the intervention, stress levels decreased to mild with an average score of 11.4. The Wilcoxon test showed a p-value of 0.001 (<0.05), indicating a significant effect of lemongrass aromatherapy on reducing stress levels among the elderly. Conclusion: Lemongrass aromatherapy has a significant effect on reducing stress levels among the elderly at BPSTW Yogyakarta Unit Budi Luhur. It can be used as a complementary non-pharmacological therapy to promote relaxation and improve psychological well-being in older adults.

Review

This study presents a timely investigation into the efficacy of lemongrass aromatherapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for reducing stress among the elderly. Addressing a significant psychological challenge in older adults, which often arises from age-related physical, social, and emotional changes, the research posits lemongrass aromatherapy (Cymbopogon citratus) as a viable solution due to its active compounds, citral and geraniol, known for their calming effects and potential to lower cortisol. The clear objective was to determine the impact of this intervention on stress levels within a specific institutionalized elderly population, highlighting its relevance for improving quality of life and overall well-being. The methodology employed a pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design, involving 57 elderly residents selected via stratified random sampling from a larger population. Stress levels were meticulously measured using the DASS-42 questionnaire both before and after a two-week intervention period, during which lemongrass aromatherapy was administered through a reed diffuser twice daily. The data analysis, conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, yielded compelling results. A notable decrease in average stress scores was observed, moving from a moderate level (16.7) pre-intervention to a mild level (11.4) post-intervention. The statistically significant p-value of 0.001 strongly supports the hypothesis that lemongrass aromatherapy has a positive effect on stress reduction. The findings robustly conclude that lemongrass aromatherapy significantly reduces stress levels in the elderly, positioning it as a beneficial complementary therapy. This provides valuable preliminary evidence for its integration into geriatric care to promote relaxation and enhance psychological well-being. While the study offers a promising avenue for non-pharmacological stress management, its pre-experimental one-group design inherently lacks a control group, making it difficult to fully isolate the effect of the intervention from other potential confounding factors or placebo effects. Future research should consider randomized controlled trials with broader populations and long-term follow-up to solidify these findings and compare its efficacy with other interventions, thereby strengthening the evidence base for clinical application.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.