EFT and Resilience in Nursing Students

NCT07331376 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 07.11.2025-218893
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 105
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) application on stress, anxiety, and sleep quality in nursing students. The nursing education process can cause high levels of psychological and physiological stress in students due to many factors such as a heavy theoretical knowledge load, clinical practice stress, exam anxiety, and shift work. This situation results in increased anxiety and impaired sleep quality, thereby negatively affecting students' academic performance, clinical skills, and overall well-being. In this context, the study aims to evaluate whether EFT, as a complementary method, is effective in reducing stress and anxiety levels in nursing students, as well as improving sleep quality. It is believed that the results of this research will contribute to the development of alternative approaches that support psychological well-being in nursing education and will provide evidence-based data on the integration of EFT into educational programs.

Conditions

Emotional Well-being; Sleep Quality; Nursing Students

Keywords

Nursing Students; Sleep Quality; Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Perceived Stress Levels from Baseline to Week 8 Measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

  Baseline and Week 8 (after completion of intervention)

  UP TO 8 WEEKS

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Subjective Sleep Duration from Baseline to Week 8 as Reported by Participants

  UP TO 8 WEEKS

Study Arms (3)

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm applies Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to nursing students to reduce stress- and anxiety-related sleep disturbances and to improve sleep quality, duration, and restorative function. Participants receive EFT sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks (45 minutes per session) conducted by a certified EFT trainer or a qualified mental health nurse in a quiet, well-ventilated classroom or counseling room. Each session follows a structured sequence: Opening and awareness (grounding): Participants describe their current emotional and sleep-related state. SUDS assessment (pre-test): Participants rate discomfort levels regarding sleep difficulty on a 0-10 scale. EFT tapping sequence: Guided, sleep-focused tapping targeting stress, anxiety, and sleep concerns. Reflection and closing: Participants discuss emotional changes and relaxation effects post-intervention. The EFT intervention is designed to enhance psychological resilience, promote emotional regulation, and improve overall sl

Behavioral: Emotional Freedom Techniques

Sham Emotional Freedom Techniques (Active Placebo Control Group)

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

This arm involves an active placebo (sham) intervention designed to control for the non-specific effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) such as attention, touch, and expectation of benefit. The procedure mimics the structure and appearance of genuine EFT sessions but omits its core therapeutic components-specifically, tapping on energy meridian points and the use of emotionally focused affirmations. The goal is to provide a credible comparison condition that elicits similar expectations of stress and sleep improvement while lacking the specific EFT mechanisms. Intervention Details: Purpose: To simulate the general relaxation and expectancy effects of EFT without including its specific active therapeutic elements. Total Duration: 8 weeks Session Frequency: 2 sessions per week Session Length: Approximately 45 minutes per session Setting: Quiet, comfortable classroom or consultation room Practitioner: Same instructor as in the genuine EFT group to maintain consistency

Other: PLESEBO

Objectives of the Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Isolating the Effect of the Intervention The control group helps determine whether observed improvements in perceived stress, anxiety, and sleep quality result specifically from the EFT intervention, rather than from external factors such as the passage of time, habituation, or natural recovery. Distinguishing the Placebo Effect In psychosocial and behavioral interventions, non-specific factors-such as receiving attention from a practitioner, participating in a structured activity, and the psychological expectation of improvement ("I will get better")-can independently produce beneficial outcomes. The control group is used to account for and measure these placebo-related effects.Demonstrating the Natural Process In the absence of an active therapeutic intervention, the control group allows observation of how perceived stress, anxiety levels, and sleep quality naturally fluctuate or change over time.

Interventions

Emotional Freedom Techniques BEHAVIORAL

Emotional Freedom Techniques

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Intervention Group

PLESEBO OTHER

PLESEBO

Sham Emotional Freedom Techniques (Active Placebo Control Group)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Currently enrolled in the Nursing Department at Muş Alparslan University,
• Be 18 years of age or older,
• Agree to participate in the study voluntarily,
• Have no psychiatric diagnosis or regular use of psychotropic medication.

You may not qualify if:

• Students who do not regularly participate in the application process,
• Students who do not complete the data collection forms in full,
• Students who report physical or psychological discomfort during the EFT application process.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hasan Kalyoncu University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Leyla sezgin, lecturer

CONTACT

+905384567396; leyla.sezgin@alparslan.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Model Details: The sample for this study consisted of individuals who volunteered to participate in the research from among the students enrolled in the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Muş Alparslan University during the 2025-2026 academic year. Simple random sampling was used to select the sample for the study. Students who met the participation criteria and agreed to participate in the study were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups from among all students in the population.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 17, 2025
• First Posted: January 9, 2026
• Study Start: December 22, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 20, 2026
• Last Updated: January 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share