Author(s)

Zhisong Zhang ^1,2, Zhimeng Li ¹, Yuhong Ma ¹, Min Zheng ¹, Yaozuo Wang ¹, Wanqiu Tan ³, Zhifei Li ⁴, Roger C. Ho ⁵

Affiliation(s)

¹ Faculty of Education, Huaibei Normal University, 8 Tuohe East Road, Huaibei, China
² Anhui Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Computing and Application on Cognitive Behavior (ICACB), Huaibei, China
³ National University of Singapore (Chongqing) Research Institute, Chongqing, China
⁴ National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, Suzhou, China
⁵ Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Technology, Hong Kong, China

Corresponding Author

Yaozuo Wang

ABSTRACT

This study intends to explore the application effect of group hypnosis in relieving anxiety of college students. A total of 72 college students were divided into experimental group and control group, and 36 subjects in the experimental group were given 7 group hypnosis interventions, and the SAS scores of the two groups were compared before and after. The results showed that the anxiety of the experimental group was significantly improved, and the improvement effect was affected by the individual's hypnotic sensitivity. The control group showed no significant improvement in mood. Group hypnosis can be used as a means of psychological intervention for college students to promote the application, the specific operation should consider the participants' sensitivity and other psychological characteristics, to develop personalized programs.

KEYWORDS

Hypnosis, anxiety, perceptibility, intervention

CITE THIS PAPER

Zhisong Zhang, Zhimeng Li, Yuhong Ma, Min Zheng, Yaozuo Wang,  Wanqiu Tan, Zhifei Li, Roger C. Ho, Group hypnosis intervention on anxiety among college students. Applied & Educational Psychology (2025) Vol. 6: 49-56. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/appep.2025.060108.

REFERENCES

[1] Yan, Y. A Meta-Analysis of Anxiety Symptoms and Related Factors in Chinese College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Education Reform and Development 2023, 5, 44-49, doi:10.26689/erd.v5i2.6185.
[2] Huang, H.-Y.; Li, Q.-F.; Jia-shen, C.; Wu, Y.; Huang, D.-Y.; Zhong, Y.-T.; Pan, H.; Pan, C. Analysis of Factors Influencing College Students' Online Class Anxiety in the COVID-19 Epidemic. 2023, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2468214/v1.
[3] Liu, M.; Deng, Y.; Wu, B.; Zhou, L.; Zhang, Y. The Serial Mediation Effect of Prospective Imagery Vividness and Anxiety Symptoms on the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Vocational College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current Psychology 2023, 43, 3175-3186, doi:10.1007/s12144-023-04606-0.
[4] Abbasy, A.A.; Johora, F.T.; Sakin, S.A.; Khan, A.A.; Nilufar, S.; Ferdoush, J.; Salam, A. Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Selective Medical Colleges of Bangladesh. Iahs Medical Journal 2022, 5, 8-11, doi:10.3329/iahsmj.v5i1.65693.
[5] Manana, M. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Anxiety Symptoms Among Student Nurses in Gauteng Province of South Africa. Behavioral Sciences 2023, 13, 630, doi: 10.3390/bs13080630.
[6] Tan, S.; Sekercioglu, F. Examining the Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on International Postsecondary Students in Canada: A Cross Sectional Analysis. International Health Trends and Perspectives 2022, 2, 310-325, doi:10.32920/ihtp.v2i3.1662.
[7] Li, W.; Zhao, Z.; Chen, D.; Peng, Y.; Lu, Z. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among College Students: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2022, 63, 1222-1230, doi:10.1111/jcpp.13606.
[8] Beckmann, E.; Mano, K.E.J. Initial Development and Validation of the School Anxiety Inventory–College Version (SAI‐CV). Psychology in the Schools 2023, 60, 2540-2563, doi:10.1002/pits.22879.
[9] Zheng, S.; Wu, G.; Zhao, J.; Chen, W. Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic Anxiety on College Students' Employment Confidence and Employment Situation Perception in China. Frontiers in Psychology 2022, 13, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.980634. 
[10] Elkins, G.; Barabasz, A.; Spiegel, D. Advancing Research and Practice: <i>The Revised APA Division 30 Definition of Hypnosis</I>. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 2014, 63, 1-9, doi:10.1080/00207144.2014.961870.
[11] Elkins, G.; Barabasz, A.; Spiegel, D. Advancing Research and Practice: The Revised APA Division 30 Definition of Hypnosis. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 2015, 57, 378-385, doi:10.1080/00029157.2015.1011465.
[12] Palmieri, A.; Kleinbub, J.R.; Calvo, V.; Sorarù, G.D.; Grasso, I.; Messina, I.; Sambin, M. Efficacy of Hypnosis-Based Treatment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Study. Frontiers in Psychology 2012, 3, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00465.
[13] Rosendahl, J. Meta-Analytic Evidence on the Efficacy of Hypnosis for Mental and Somatic Health Issues: A 20-Year Perspective. Frontiers in Psychology 2024, 14, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330238.
[14] Enea, V.; Dafinoiu, I. Cognitive Hypnotherapy in Addressing the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2013, 78, 36-40, doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.04.246.
[15] Bo, S.; Rahimi, F.; Goitre, I.; Properzi, B.; Ponzo, V.; Regaldo, G.; Boschetti, S.; Fadda, M.; Ciccone, G.; Abbate-Daga, G.; et al. Effects of Self‐Conditioning Techniques (Self‐Hypnosis) in Promoting Weight Loss in Patients With Severe Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obesity 2018, 26, 1422-1429, doi:10.1002/oby.22262.
[16] Carmody, T.P.; Duncan, C.; Solkowitz, S.N.; Huggins, J.; Simon, J.A. Hypnosis for Smoking Relapse Prevention: A Randomized Trial. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 2017, 60, 159-171, doi:10.1080/00029157.2016.1261678.
[17] Shanthanna, H.; Jeurkar, V. Use of Hypnosis as a Substitute Premedication and Adjunct to Anesthesia. Journal of Anesthesiology and Clinical Science 2013, 2, 25, doi: 10.7243/2049-9752-2-25.
[18] Chandrasegaran, A. Clinical Hypnosis as an Adjunct in Anesthesia for a Surgical Procedure. Journal of Health and Translational Medicine 2023, 26, 12-15, doi:10.22452/jummec.vol26no1.4.
[19] Khalil, H.; Shajrawi, A.; Al-Dweik, G.; Zaghmouri, A.; Henker, R. The Impact of Preoperative Pain-Related Psychological Factors on Pain Intensity Post-Surgery in Jordan. Journal of Health Psychology 2020, 26, 2876-2885, doi:10.1177/1359105320937067.
[20] Alberto, M.-L.; Martínez-Lorca, M.; Cabañas, A.M.D. Effectiveness of Different Interventions to Reduce Anxiety in Oncological Patients During PET/CT Studies: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. International Journal of Psychology and Psychoanalysis 2021, 7, doi:10.23937/2572-4037.1510056.
[21] Vuillaume, L.A.; Gentilhomme, C.; Weber, S.; Ouamara, N.; Bayard, J.; Valla, M.; Khalife, K.; Goetz, C.; Guler, N. Effectiveness of Hypnosis for the Prevention of Anxiety During Coronary Angiography (HYPCOR Study): A Prospective Randomized Study. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 2022, 22, doi:10.1186/s12906-022-03792-x.
[22] Lang, E.V.; Berbaum, K.S.; Faintuch, S.; Hatsiopoulou, O.; Halsey, N.; Li, X.; Berbaum, M.L.; Laser, E.; Baum, J.K. Adjunctive Self-Hypnotic Relaxation for Outpatient Medical Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Trial With Women Undergoing Large Core Breast Biopsy. Pain 2006, 126, 155-164, doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.06.035.
[23] Lisnawati, L.; Widiyanti, R. Audio Selfhypnosis through Smartphone Can Reduce Anxiety in Pregnant Women. Jnki (Jurnal Ners Dan Kebidanan Indonesia) (Indonesian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery) 2023, 10, 340, doi:10.21927/jnki.2022.10(4).340-347.
[24] Venkiteswaran, A.; Tandon, S. Role of Hypnosis in Dental Treatment. Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry 2021, 11, 115-124, doi:10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_320_20.
[25] Yubiliana, G.; Putra, R.; Abdurrochman, A. Q-Eeg Map of Parietal and Frontal Lobes Out of Brain Waves Recording During Dental Hypnosis Practice. Padjadjaran Journal of Dentistry 2021, 33, 258, doi:10.24198/pjd.vol33no3.33382.
[26] Kosto, A. Discontinuation of Benzodiazepines and Z‐drugs in Hospitalised Population at the Age of 60 and Above. An Open‐label Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2023, 38, doi:10.1002/gps.6012.
[27] Schmidt, B.; Holroyd, C.B. Hypnotic Suggestions of Safety Reduce Neuronal Signals of Delay Discounting. Scientific Reports 2021, 11, doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81572-2.
[28] Enck, P.; Hefner, J.; Herbert, B.M.; Mazurak, N.; Weimer, K.; Muth, E.R.; Zipfel, S.; Martens, U. Sensitivity and Specificity of Hypnosis Effects on Gastric Myoelectrical Activity. Plos One 2013, 8, e83486, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083486.
[29] Nuno, M.P.d.M. Investigating Functional Brain Connectivity Patterns Associated With Two Hypnotic States. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2023, 17, doi:10.3389/fnhum.2023.1286336. 
[30] Del Casale, A.; Ferracuti, S.; Adriani, B.; Novelli, F.; Zoppi, T.; Bargagna, P.; Pompili, M. Neural functional correlates of hypnosis and hypnoanalgesia: Role of the cingulate cortex. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 2022, 64, 53-61, doi:10.1080/00029157.2021.1895709.

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Advances in Educational Technology and Psychology
  
  
• Curriculum and Teaching Methodology
  
  
• Transactions on Comparative Education
  
  
• Advances in Vocational and Technical Education
  
  
• Adult and Higher Education