ABSTRACT

In studies carried out about the effect of stress in the workplace, the function of supermarket cashier is an occupational group pointed out as susceptible to deleterious effects. So, the present study aimed to investigate variations of perceived stress indices, bodily discomfort and quality of life indicators in supermarket cashiers submitted to relaxation based on the principles of Eutony. It is an experimental research of only one group with a sample composed of nine individuals. Ten interventions were carried out, once a week, and 2 evaluations (before and after the period of intervention), which consisted of a general identification questionnaire, Perceived Stress Questionnaire of Levenstein (PSQ) in its Recent form, adapted protocol of Zabel and McGrew (1997) and the Medical Outcomes Studies Short-Form 36-item (MOS SF-36) to evaluate the quality of life. It was verified that there was an statistical significant reduction of the perceived stress index (initial: 0,49; final: 0,37); low reduction of the number of bodily discomfort complaints (initial: 59; final: 57) and increase on their sensitivity levels (initial: 609; final: 675), both with low statistical significance, and statistically significant increase of quality of life indicators (initial: 494,59; final: 611,46). It was concluded that the relaxation technique used was efficient on the reduction of perceived stress index and improved the perception of the quality of bodily discomfort complaints. Furthermore, it is suggested that the technique can participate in improving the quality of life indicators.