Exploratory Studies

This study explored urban adolescents' sleep experiences and perceptions of mind-body integrative health (MBIH) techniques to inform the development of a combined sleep and MBIH intervention. The findings highlight the need for adolescent-informed interventions offering sleep improvement strategies and the potential of MBIH techniques to address sleep barriers.

Racial and ethnic minority adolescents living in urban settings experience sleep disparities. Guided by principles of participatory design and inclusion, the team developed a novel intervention combining sleep hygiene education with mind-body integrative health practices to improve sleep quality among adolescents in New York City.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a complementary health practice that involves tapping on acupuncture points while voicing affirmations to address various life issues, with the goal of providing relief from emotional and physical problems. Recognized globally, EFT is effective for treating conditions like anxiety, stress, pain, and weight loss, and is promoted by EFT International as a practical self-help method. 

This study investigated the effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) in reducing anxiety among 41 students using archival research with a mixed-method design. Results showed that state anxiety decreased following the eight-week EFT course, while trait anxiety increased. A majority of participants reported decreased anxiety levels during the one-year follow-up, indicating the potential long-term benefits of EFT for managing anxiety.

This article examines Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as a constructivist psychotherapeutic approach, analyzing its theoretical and methodological foundations through a qualitative experiential study. It highlights how EFT incorporates key facets of constructivist psychotherapy, such as exploration of early life issues, construction of new meanings, and the role of the client as an active change agent in the therapeutic process.

Researchers compared the effectiveness of 4-week and 8-week Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) programs for weight loss and found that both programs significantly reduced food cravings, improved eating habits, and led to weight loss. The 8-week program showed better results in maintaining reduced food cravings and improved eating habits over time, but the 4-week program resulted in more weight loss. Overall, the study suggests that EFT can be a helpful tool for weight loss, and that both shorter and longer programs can be effective, but more research is needed to confirm the optimal program length.

This study explores Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as a complementary approach to supporting chronic disease healthcare, focusing on practitioners' experiences. Findings suggest that EFT can help patients manage emotional distress and physical symptoms, promoting a holistic biopsychosocial approach to rehabilitation.

This observational study examined the effects of six sessions of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) on seven veterans with psychological symptoms. The results showed significant reductions in symptom severity (40%), anxiety (46%), depression (49%), and PTSD (50%), with most gains maintained at 90-day follow-up. The study suggests that EFT may be an effective treatment for veterans with psychological trauma, although further research is needed due to the small sample size.