Investigation of the Effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on Stress and Anxiety in Nursing Students in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Yıl 2023, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 40 - 46, 01.01.2023

Canan Eraydın , Berkay Çorbacı Üzeyir Dini Hamza Uysal Esra Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.19127/bshealthscience.1073640

Öz

COVID19 pandemic has caused nursing students studying in the clinical field to stay away from the clinic for a long time due to the interruption of education. This process affected the anxiety levels of nursing students, causing them to feel inadequate and experience stress. This study aims to investigate the effect of the emotional freedom technique on nursing students' styles of coping with anxiety and stress. In the experimentally designed study with a pretest-posttest control group, the emotional freedom technique was applied to the experimental group in 4 sessions. In addition, the state anxiety scale, coping styles scale, subjective discomfort level scale was applied during the pre-application phase and after the emotional freedom technique session. As a result, it was determined that the students in the experimental group had higher mean scores of coping with stress inventory, seeking social support, optimism, self-confidence, and submissive approach measurement scores in the post-test, and state anxiety scale measurement scores measured in the post-test. Therefore, alternative approaches such as the emotional freedom technique that nursing students can apply to reduce their anxiety levels and increase their coping with stress should be encouraged.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Emotional freedom technique, Anxiety, Stress, Complementary therapies

Kaynakça

• Benor DJ, Ledger K, Toussaint L, Hett G, Zaccaro D. 2009. A Pilot study of emotional freedom techniques, wholistic hybrid derived from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing and emotional freedom technique, and cognitive behavioral therapy to treat test anxiety in university students. Explore, 5(6): 338-340.
• Both, E, Stewart A, Carrier A. 2013. Tapping for success: A pilot study to explore if emotional freedom techniques (EFT) can reduce anxiety and enhance academic performance in university students. Innov Pract Higher Educat, 1(3): 1-13.
• Chatwin H, Stapleton P, Porter B, Devine S, Sheldon T. 2016. The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and emotional freedom techniques in reducing depression and anxiety among adults: a pilot study. IMCJ, 15(2): 27-34.
• Church D, Brooks AJ. 2010. Application of emotional freedom techniques. Integrat Med, 9(4): 47-48.
• Church D, De Asis MA, Brooks AJ. 2012. Brief group intervention using emotional freedom techniques for depression in college students: a randomized controlled trial. Depress Res Treat, 2012: 257172.
• Cloud M. 2016. Emotional freedom techniques for anxiety: a systematic review with meta-analysis. J Nerv Ment Dis, 204(5): 388-395.
• Dincer B, Inangil D. 2021. The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on nurses' stress, anxiety, and burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Explore, 17(2): 109-114.
• Dincer B, Özçelik SK, Özer Z, Bahçecik N. 2020. Breathing therapy and emotional freedom techniques on public speaking anxiety in Turkish nursing students: A randomized controlled study. Explore, 18(2):226-233.
• Eraydin C, Alpar SE. 2022. The effect of laughter therapy on nursing students' anxiety, satisfaction with life, and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Randomized controlled study. Advan Integ Med, 9(3): 173-179.
• Gaesser AH, Karan OC. 2017. A randomized controlled comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to reduce adolescent anxiety: A pilot study. J Altern Complement Med, 23(2): 102-108.
• Ghamsari MS, Lavasani MG. 2015. Effectiveness of emotional freedom technique on pregnant women's perceived stress and resilience. J Educat Sociol, 6(2): 118-22.
• İnangil D, Vural PI, Doğan S, Körpe G. 2020. Effectiveness of music therapy and emotional freedom technique on test anxiety in Turkish nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Integr Med, 33:101041.
• Öner N, Le Compte WA. 1985. Durumluk-sürekli kaygı envanteri el kitabı. Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Yayınları, İdtsnbul, Türkiye, 2. Baskı, ss. 26.
• Ozamiz-Etxebarria N, Santa-Maria M, Eiguren-Munitis A, Gorrotxategi P. 2020. Reduction of COVID-19 anxiety levels through relaxation techniques: A study carried out in northern Spain on a sample of young. Frontiers Psycol, 11: 1-6.
• Patterson SL. 2016. The effect of emotional freedom technique on stress and anxiety in nursing students: A pilot study. Nurse Educ Today, 40: 104-110.
• Rancour P. 2017. The emotional freedom technique: finally, a unifying theory for the practice of holistic nursing, or too good to be true? J Holist Nurs, 35(4): 382-388.
• Şahin NH, Durak A. 1995. Stresle başa çıkma tarzları ölçeği: Üniversite öğrencileri için uyarlanması. Türk Psikol Derg, 10(34): 56-73.
• Sezgin N. 2017. Tek oturumda uygulanan duygusal özgürlük tekniği (EFT)'nin yaratılan stres durumu üzerindeki etkileri. Ankara Üniv Dil Tarih-Coğrafya Fak Derg, 53(1): 1-7.
• Stapleton P, Crighton G, Sabot D, O'Neill HM. 2020. Reexamining the effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Psychol Trauma, 12(8): 869-877.
• Torabizadeh C, Bostani S, Yektatalab S. 2016. Comparison between the effects of muscle relaxation and support groups on the anxiety of nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract, 25: 106-113.
• Vatan F, Avdal EÜ, Yağcan H Şanlı D. 2020. COVID-19 pandemisi ve hemşirelik eğitimi derneği faaliyetleri. KUHEAD, 17(4): 369-373.
• Velavan TP, Meyer CG. 2020. The COVID‐19 epidemic. Tropical Med Inter Health, 25(3): 278-280.
• Vural PI, Aslan E. 2019. Emotional freedom techniques and breathing awareness to reduce childbirth fear: A randomized controlled study. Complement Ther Clin Pract, 35: 224-231.
• Vural PI, Körpe G, Inangil D. 2019. Emotional freedom techniques (EFT) to reduce exam anxiety in Turkish nursing students. Eur J Integr Med, 32: 101002.
• Wiebe SA, Johnson SM. 2017. Creating relationships that foster resilience in Emotionally Focused Therapy. Curr Opin Psychol, 13: 65-69.