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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07258719

Aromatherapy's Impact on Test Anxiety in College Students: A Mixed Methods Study

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of aromatherapy as an intervention to reduce test anxiety and improve academic performance. The Investigators hypothesize that exposure to aromatherapy during assessments will lead to lower levels of test anxiety and result in higher quiz and test scores.

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Key information

Conditions

Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–99 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • current student
  • participating in selected course at the University

Exclusion criteria

  • allergy to essential oils
  • pregnant

Treatment and study plan

Essential Oil 1

Other

Participants will complete short tasks before and after quizzes and tests that are part of normal coursework.

Prior to each assessment, participants will apply aromatherapy (doTERRA ADAPTIV) using a roller bottle (Weeks 5-12 only), sit quietly for 3 minutes, and record resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. T After completing the quiz/test, participants will repeat HR and BP measurements and complete a brief post-assessment questionnaire.

Other names: ADAPTIV

Essential Oil 2

Other

Participants will complete short tasks before and after quizzes and tests that are part of normal coursework.

Prior to each assessment, participants will apply aromatherapy (doTERRA Thinker) using a roller bottle (Weeks 5-12 only), sit quietly for 3 minutes, and record resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure. T After completing the quiz/test, participants will repeat HR and BP measurements and complete a brief post-assessment questionnaire.

Other names: Thinker

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS)

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 12

    The WTAS consists of 10 items, each using a Likert response scale where 1= "Never true" and 5= "always true. Total score is divided by 10 to obtain final scores. The total score ranges from one to five with higher scores equating to greater anxiety.

  2. Change in heart rate (HR) pre aromatherapy

    Time frame: week 3 and week 4

    heart rate will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  3. Change in blood pressure (BP) pre aromatherapy

    Time frame: week 3 and week 4

    both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  4. Change in heart rate (HR) with aromatherapy

    Time frame: Week 5 through Week 12

    heart rate will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  5. Change in blood pressure (BP) with aromatherapy

    Time frame: Week 5 through Week 12

    both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests

  6. Change in Stress Performance Evaluation (SPE)

    Time frame: Baseline and week 12

    percent test questions correct (number of test questions correct out of hundred)]/ percent change in heart rate (heart rate at baseline)/(heart rate after testing) × 100)]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Jenalee Hinds

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 2, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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