In a research study, it was found that therapeutic touch and music have a positive effect on sleep quality and overall well-being in women going through menopause. The study involved 108 women who were divided into three groups: therapeutic touch, music, and control. Data was collected using various tools such as the Participant Information Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Menopause Rating Scale, and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Scale.
The group that experienced therapeutic touch had one session per week for a duration of four weeks. On the other hand, the music group was instructed to listen to music for half an hour before going to sleep every day for the same four-week period. After the initial tests, data was collected again four weeks later. Various statistical methods like analysis of covariance, post hoc tests, and partial η2 methods were employed to analyze the data.
After adjusting for the initial test scores, it was observed that both the therapeutic touch and music groups showed significantly improved post-test scores in the “Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index” dimensions of subjective sleep quality when compared to the control group (p<0.001).
Similarly, sleep latency and sleep disturbances also showed significant improvements in the therapeutic touch and music groups as opposed to the control group (p≤0.001 and p<0.05, respectively).
Moreover, there were significant differences in the post-test scores on the “Menopause Rating Scale” and “Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Scale” in favor of the therapeutic touch and music groups (p<0.001 for all).
