This paper expands upon a prior study investigating whether bilateral eye movements from EMDR therapy reduce state anxiety and improve focus and confidence in higher education students shortly before an examination. In the preliminary study, a 2-minute horizontal eye-movement exercise produced a significant, large reduction in state anxiety, a significant, modest increase in confidence, and no significant change in focus. To improve generalisability beyond an English-language cohort, the present study recruited a multidisciplinary sample (accounting, psychology, and statistics students). Following the protocol of the preliminary study, this investigation used a quantitative within-subject pre–post design. The sample consisted of 167 Cambodian undergraduates who gave pre- and post-exercise self-ratings of state anxiety, focus, and confidence in the 15 minutes before an examination. The significant, medium-to-large reduction in anxiety was replicated (Wilcoxon signed-rank: Z = −4.95, p < .001, r = .44). However, unlike the preliminary study, there was no significant change in confidence (Z = 1.03, p = .317) but a significant improvement in focus (Z = 2.49, p = .014). The consistent and considerable reduction in anxiety across the two studies strengthens the case for the integration of this simple, efficient, and accessible self-regulation technique into higher education contexts. This is especially the case in light of the growing need for anxiety-reduction tools among Generation Z students.

Authors:
Niki Saunders, CamEd Business School, Cambodia

About the Presenter(s)
Niki Saunders is a lecturer and student counsellor at CamEd in Cambodia. Her interests revolve around helping people; her current project investigates whether a tool from EMDR therapy can be safely and effectively applied to educational settings.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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