Aromatherapy's Impact on Test Anxiety in College Students: A Mixed Methods Study

NCT07258719 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 105250
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of aromatherapy as an intervention to reduce test anxiety and improve academic performance. The Investigators hypothesize that exposure to aromatherapy during assessments will lead to lower levels of test anxiety and result in higher quiz and test scores.

Conditions

Anxiety

Keywords

Aromatherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Change in Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS)

  The WTAS consists of 10 items, each using a Likert response scale where 1= "Never true" and 5= "always true. Total score is divided by 10 to obtain final scores. The total score ranges from one to five with higher scores equating to greater anxiety.

  Baseline and Week 12

• Change in heart rate (HR) pre aromatherapy

  heart rate will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  week 3 and week 4

• Change in blood pressure (BP) pre aromatherapy

  both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  week 3 and week 4

• Change in heart rate (HR) with aromatherapy

  heart rate will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  Week 5 through Week 12

• Change in blood pressure (BP) with aromatherapy

  both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  Week 5 through Week 12

• Change in Stress Performance Evaluation (SPE)

  percent test questions correct (number of test questions correct out of hundred)\]/ percent change in heart rate (heart rate at baseline)/(heart rate after testing) × 100)\]

  Baseline and week 12

Study Arms (2)

aromatherapy intervention 1

EXPERIMENTAL

participants applying their assigned essential oil (ADAPTIV or Thinker) prior to quizzes/tests

Other: Essential Oil 1

aromatherapy intervention 2

EXPERIMENTAL

participants applying their assigned essential oil (ADAPTIV or Thinker) prior to quizzes/tests

Other: Essential Oil 2

Interventions

Essential Oil 1 OTHER

Participants will complete short tasks before and after quizzes and tests that are part of normal coursework. Prior to each assessment, participants will apply aromatherapy (doTERRA ADAPTIV) using a roller bottle (Weeks 5-12 only), sit quietly for 3 minutes, and record resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. T After completing the quiz/test, participants will repeat HR and BP measurements and complete a brief post-assessment questionnaire.

Also known as: ADAPTIV

aromatherapy intervention 1

Essential Oil 2 OTHER

Participants will complete short tasks before and after quizzes and tests that are part of normal coursework. Prior to each assessment, participants will apply aromatherapy (doTERRA Thinker) using a roller bottle (Weeks 5-12 only), sit quietly for 3 minutes, and record resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. T After completing the quiz/test, participants will repeat HR and BP measurements and complete a brief post-assessment questionnaire.

Also known as: Thinker

aromatherapy intervention 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• current student
• participating in selected course at the University

You may not qualify if:

• allergy to essential oils
• pregnant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jenalee Hinds: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Jenalee Hinds, PhD

  University of Kentucky

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 20, 2025
• First Posted: December 2, 2025
• Study Start: September 18, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 18, 2025
• Study Completion: December 18, 2025
• Last Updated: February 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)