Guided Imagery Intervention for Anxiety Reduction

Abstract

Guided Imagery (GI) is an emerging alternative therapy to control anxiety. The technique involves purposefully and consciously inducing mental images in order to obtain the desired outcomes. The present study investigated the efficacy of GI intervention in the management of state and trait anxiety in an incidental and purposive sample of 8th class students. A pre-test post-test design with one control and one experimental group, matched in terms of intelligence scores and socio-economic status was adopted. After a pre-test assessment of trait and state anxiety levels of both the groups, GI intervention was administered on the experimental group while the control group continued their usual scholastic tasks. The Guided Imagery Intervention developed by the investigator consisted of 7 audio scripts of 15 minutes duration. Interim testing of state and trait anxiety levels was done after the first round and post testing after the second round of Guided Imagery Intervention. A follow up testing was done after a gap of one month. The data was analyzed by applying the 't' test, one way ANOVA, and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The results proved the effectiveness of GI in lowering the state and trait anxiety.