Strategies for coping with anxiety among psychomotor students

Stress and anxiety are escalating problems among students in higher education but interventions have proven difficult to implement. This study focuses on stress and anxiety relieving strategies already utilized by students in the psychomotor educational program and explores experienced benefits and barriers. The study is the initial stage in the development of a psychomotor group intervention aimed at reducing stress and anxiety among young adults. The theoretical framework consists of emotion regulation, coping and embodiment theory (e.g. Gross 2002, Ogden 2015).
A survey was distributed among Danish psychomotor students. Stress, anxiety and well-being were measured with PSS, HADS-A and WHO-5. Students rated their use of various psychomotor and general coping strategies according to frequency used and perceived benefits and barriers and elaborated in free text.
Results showed high levels of stress and anxiety compared to the general population. Students used a range of coping strategies, particularly breathing and grounding exercises. The presentation will elaborate on students’ descriptions of experienced benefits and relate these to the demands that an intervention must meet.