Abstract

This study examined the effect of guided imagery on state and trait anxiety reduction. 60 college students (having over 65 in a trait-anxiety score) were randomly assigned to an experimental, control, or waiting-list group. The experimental group participated in five days of 15 minute sessions in a silent room and listened to a guided imagery tape, which included suggestion for a favorable view of a seaside, forest, and stream. The control group participated in the same session excluding the guided imagery tape. The waiting-list group received no treatment. Ss were given the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Smith Relaxation States Inventory before and after the experimentation. The research hypothesis was to determine if the guided imagery training would have an effect on anxiety reduction. The experimental group revealed a significant decrease in State Anxiety compared with the control group and the waiting-list group. Regression analysis revealed that increased Relaxation States significantly lowered State Anxiety. But the experimental group showed non-significant reduction on Trait Anxiety compared with the control group and the waiting-list group. The present findings suggest that the short-term guided imagery benefit those facing stressful situations, such as test-anxiety and task-anxiety. A guided imagery tape can effectively lead to imaging a relaxing place in the person's mind, which helps them reduce the anxiety, often accompanied by situational discomforts.