Summary: This randomized controlled study compared Breathing Therapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for reducing public speaking anxiety in 76 Turkish nursing students, using measures of subjective distress, state-trait anxiety, and speech anxiety. At baseline, the two groups scored similarly on all measures, but after the interventions both groups showed significant reductions across the board (p<0.001).
EFT proved more effective than Breathing Therapy specifically for reducing speech anxiety, with a notably larger effect size (d=3.18 vs. d=1.46). The authors conclude that both Breathing Therapy and EFT are effective for reducing stress, anxiety, and public speaking anxiety, with EFT showing a stronger benefit for speech-specific anxiety.
Citation and Link: Dincer, B., Özçelik, S. K., Özer, Z., & Bahçecik, N. (2022). Breathing therapy and emotional freedom techniques on public speaking anxiety in Turkish nursing students: A randomized controlled study. Explore: The Journal of Science & Healing, 18(2), 226–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.11.006
Read the Original Study at Explore: The Journal of Science & Healing