Group Treatment for Anxiety and Behavioural Avoidance in Oral Test

Abstract

Oral test are social situations that can activate unpleasant emotions like anxiety, shame, angry and guilty. To cope this emotions, students use several strategies, like increasement preparation, seeking emotional and instrumental social support, relaxation or distraction, as others. Postponement of the confrontation and expression inhibition, are two ways of behavioural avoidance that alleviate  emotional distress associated with oral exams but, if there turn frequently can generate low achievement, delay or drop out the career and several mental symptoms.

To decrease anxiety and behavioural avoidance in oral test, a group treatment was designed, with techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Intervention´s impact was assessed through and empirical study, with 22 participants of diverse university careers.  Pre and post intervention measures were administered. Significant differences were corroborated in total anxiety; emotionality, worry, interference and self-confidence subscales, and postergation and expression inhibition scales, with medium to high effect sizes.  Majority of the participants get better, some no report positive changes and few impair.   Variability of the effects were no related with comorbid mental symptoms.  The components perceived like more useful, were relaxation, revising study strategies, cognitive restructuring and self-instructions.