(25-05-09) Hypnosis Improves Academic Performance and Reduces Test-Anxiety for College

Studentsby Steve G. Jones, M.Ed.,

A lot is expected of today's college students. They are under an enormous amount of pressure to succeed in
academics. The pressure comes from themselves, parents, professors, and friends. This causes a lot of stress for students. Success in college is a stepping stone to being successful in a career after graduation, so students feel the need to perform at their full potential. It is important for struggling college students to seek help in reducing their stress with natural treatments such as hypnotherapy.

For some students, the stress and anxiety of
school and academics can become overwhelming. Stress affects students in many different ways. For some students, their grades start to suffer, which can affect their GPA in the long-run. Other students become so overwhelmed by stress that they drop out of college. According to the 2000 census, 50% of the population in the United States over the age of 25 attended college. However, only 60% of those who attended college earned an associate, bachelor, or
graduate degree. This means that 40% did not finish college for various
reasons.

Sapp (1990) studied the role hypnosis plays on treating test-anxiety
in college students. The participants in the study were randomly divided into two groups. One group served as the control group and received no form of treatment. The other group received cognitive-behavioral hypnosis. The researcher evaluated the effects of hypnosis in improving academic performance and decreasing test anxiety.

Both groups were enrolled in a demanding psychology course. All students were evaluated based on their midterm grade and
anxiety levels. The hypnosis group reported a significant reduction in test anxiety and improvement in academic achievement. Both groups were evaluated 6 weeks after the end of the course and the hypnosis group was found to have maintained their hypnosis treatment gains in achievement and reduction in anxiety. Cognitive behavioral hypnosis is a highly effective form of treatment that helps students improve performance and reduce anxiety.

Carrese (1998)
outlines the benefits of teaching self-hypnosis to college freshman. The
researcher describes the steps taught to students, including relaxation
techniques and the usage of imagery. Self-hypnosis was able to help the college freshman cope with stress and the pressures of college.

Whether cognitive-behavioral hypnosis is used or self-hypnosis is used, hypnotherapy is a very effective form of treating stress and anxiety in college students. Having the ability to better manage stress not only improves their academic performance in college, but will continue to help them cope with stress in other situations throughout their lives.

Sources:

2000 Census. Census Scope. Retrieved on May
15, 2009: http://www.censusscope.org/us/chart...

Carrese, M.A. (1998).
Managing stress for college success through self-hypnosis. Journal of
Humanistic Education and Development, 36(3), 134-142.

Sapp, M. (1990).
Hypnotherapy and test anxiety: Two cognitive-behavioral constructs. The effects of hypnosis in reducing test anxiety and improving academic achievement in college students. Report. ERIC ID: ED328163.

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