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Reducing Test Anxiety by Device-Guided Breathing: A Pilot Study
Zehava Ovadia-Blechman1, Ricardo Tarrasch2,3, Maria Velicki1
1School of Medical Engineering, Afeka-Tel Aviv Academic College of Engineering, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Frontiers in Psychology
|June 9, 2022
Summary
Device-Guided Breathing (DGB) shows promise for reducing test anxiety in students. Daily DGB practice may lead to decreased anxiety and potentially improve academic performance.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
- Student Health
Background:
- Test anxiety is a prevalent issue affecting students' well-being and academic success.
- Device-Guided Breathing (DGB) is a recognized behavioral technique for managing anxiety disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of DGB as a self-treatment tool for reducing test anxiety among college students.
- To explore the potential of DGB in mitigating anxiety symptoms in an academic context.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 21 college students (ages 20-30) randomly assigned to a DGB practice group (n=10) or a wait-list control group (n=11).
- Participants underwent a 3-week intervention period with DGB training.
- Physiological (blood pressure) and psychological (reported anxiety) measures were assessed before and after the intervention, alongside a stress test.
Main Results:
- While not statistically significant, the DGB group exhibited a large effect size for anxiety reduction compared to the control group.
- Clinical observations suggest that regular DGB practice may contribute to lower anxiety levels.
Conclusions:
- Daily DGB practice presents a potential self-treatment strategy for test anxiety.
- The findings suggest DGB may be beneficial for general anxiety, particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the impact of DGB on test performance and generalize findings to broader populations.
