Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Aromatherapy Oils in Reducing Anxiety in Third Trimester Pregnant Women
Abstract
Studies show that the global incidence of anxiety is 23% in Alberta, Canada, 15,6% in Germany, and 49% in Pakistan. Anxiety in pregnancy is related to depression which affects the mother and baby, besides that it can pose risks to the mother's mental health such as increasing the risk of depression after giving birth. Objective: to find out the Effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Aromatherapy Oils in Reducing Anxiety in Third Trimester Pregnant Women. Method: using the true experimental design method using one group design, pre test-post test design, sampling technique using purposive sampling. Pregnant women will have their Anxiety scale measured using the State Anxiety Invantory Score (STAI), data analysis is carried out univariately to describe the frequency distribution and bivariately using the Wilcoxon test. Results: The average anxiety score for the Pre Test was 2,31 and the Post Test was 1,31. The results of the Wilcoxon signed rank test statistic show that the value is ρ < 0,001. Conclusions: The effectiveness of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and aromatherapy oils based on the Wilcoxon signed rank test statistical test can be seen with a value of ρ < 0,001, which means it is proven to reduce anxiety in third trimester pregnant women.
References
Bastard, J., & Tiran, D. (2009). Reprint of: Aromatherapy and massage for antenatal anxiety: Its effect on the fetus. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 15(4), 230–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.06.010
Bayrampour, H., Ali, E., McNeil, D. A., Benzies, K., MacQueen, G., & Tough, S. (2016). Pregnancy-related anxiety: A concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 55, 115–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.10.023
Bedaso, A., Adams, J., Peng, W., & Sibbritt, D. (2021). The relationship between social support and mental health problems during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Health, 18(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01209-5
Biana, C. B., Cecagno, D., Porto, A. R., Cecagno, S., Marques, V. D. A., & Soares, M. C. (2021). Non-pharmacological therapies applied in pregnancy and labor: an integrative review. Revista Da Escola de Enfermagem, 55, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-220X2019019703681
Caci, H., Baylé, F. J., Dossios, C., Robert, P., & Boyer, P. (2003). The Spielberger trait anxiety inventory measures more than anxiety. European Psychiatry, 18(8), 394–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2003.05.003
Church, D., De Asis, M. A., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). Brief Group Intervention Using Emotional Freedom Techniques for Depression in College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Depression Research and Treatment, 2012, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/257172
Church, D., & Feinstein, D. (2017). The Manual Stimulation of Acupuncture Points in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Review of Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques. Medical Acupuncture, 29(4), 194–205. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1213
Church, D., Hawk, C., Brooks, A. J., Toukolehto, O., Wren, M., Dinter, I., & Stein, P. (2013). Psychological trauma symptom improvement in veterans using emotional freedom techniques: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201(2), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827f6351
Clond, M. (2016). Emotional freedom techniques for anxiety a systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 204(5), 388–395. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000483
Dincer, B., & Inangil, D. (2021). The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on nurses’ stress, anxiety, and burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Explore, 17(2), 109–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.11.012
Domínguez-Solís, E., Lima-Serrano, M., & Lima-Rodríguez, J. S. (2021). Non-pharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety in pregnancy, labour and postpartum: A systematic review. Midwifery, 102(August). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103126
Fatemeh Hajibagheri, F. F., & Valiani, M. (2024). The effects of aromatherapy on the mood state and resilience of pregnant women: A clinical trial. March, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1794_22
Field, T., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Deeds, O., & Figueiredo, B. (2009). Pregnancy massage reduces prematurity, low birthweight and postpartum depression. Infant Behavior and Development, 32(4), 454–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2009.07.001
Field, T., Diego, M., Hernandez-Reif, M., Medina, L., Delgado, J., & Hernandez, A. (2012). Yoga and massage therapy reduce prenatal depression and prematurity. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 16(2), 204–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2011.08.002
Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Hart, S., Theakston, H., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (1999). Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 20(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.3109/01674829909075574
Grigoriadis, S., Graves, L., Peer, M., Mamisashvili, L., Tomlinson, G., Vigod, S. N., Dennis, C. L., Steiner, M., Brown, C., Cheung, A., Dawson, H., Rector, N. A., Guenette, M., & Richter, M. (2018). Maternal anxiety during pregnancy and the association with adverse perinatal outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 79(5). https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.17r12011
Irmak Vural, P., & Aslan, E. (2019). Emotional freedom techniques and breathing awareness to reduce childbirth fear: A randomized controlled study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 35(February), 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.02.011
Jones, T., Purdy, M., Stewart, E. A., Cutshall, S. M., Hathcock, M. A., Mahapatra, S., Bauer, B. A., & Ainsworth, A. J. (2021). Lavender Aromatherapy to Reduce Anxiety During Intrauterine Insemination: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Global Advances In Health and Medicine, 10, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/21649561211059074
Newham, J. J., Westwood, M., Aplin, J. D., & Wittkowski, A. (2012). State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) scores during pregnancy following intervention with complementary therapies. Journal of Affective Disorders, 142(1–3), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.04.027
Răchită, A. I. C., Strete, G. E., Sălcudean, A., Ghiga, D. V., Rădulescu, F., Călinescu, M., Nan, A. G., Sasu, A. B., Suciu, L. M., & Mărginean, C. (2023). Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression and Anxiety among Women in the Last Trimester of Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study. Medicina (Lithuania), 59(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59061009
Rahmani, N., Araj-Khodaei, M., Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S., Esmaeilpour, K., Montazeri, M., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2023). The effect of cognitive–behavioral counseling with or without Citrus aurantium essential oil on sleep quality in pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 21(3), 337–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41105-023-00451-7
Ronalen Br. Situmorang, Taufianie Rossita, D. T. R. (2020). Cross Sectional Study. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Multidisiplin Ilmu Universitas Asahan Ke-4 Tahun 2020, 1177–1184. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_936
Silva, M. M. de J., Nogueira, D. A., Clapis, M. J., & Leite, E. P. R. C. (2017). Anxiety in pregnancy: Prevalence and associated factors. Revista Da Escola de Enfermagem, 51, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-220X2016048003253
Stapleton, P., Lilley-Hale, E., MacKintosh, G., & Sparenburg, E. (2020). Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Techniques for Food Cravings and Weight Management: 2-Year Follow-Up. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 26(2), 98–106. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0309
Suyani, S. (2020). Hubungan Tingkat Pendidikan Dan Status Pekerjaan Dengan Kecemasan Pada Ibu Hamil Trimester Iii. JKM (Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat) Cendekia Utama, 8(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.31596/jkm.v8i1.563
Tabatabaeichehr, M., & Mortazavi, H. (2020). The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in the Management of Labor Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 30(3), 449–458. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v30i3.16
Copyright (c) 2025 Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.



