Test Anxiety is a widespread psychological phenomenon. With prevalence rates of 20–40 percent of university students, it impedes adaptive functioning and life quality. Many available treatments for Test Anxiety involve the intervention of clinicians and usually a few months are required before symptom reduction is reported. The present randomized controlled trial examined a simple behavioral intervention—the use of breathing tools—as an exclusive therapy for Test Anxiety. Specifically, the efficacy of a biofeedback respiratory practice device was examined. 34 students were assigned to 3 treatment groups during their exam period: Biofeedback device group, self-directed breathing exercise group, and psychoeducation group. Self-report measures of Test Anxiety were collected pre- and post-intervention. Participants also reported additional exploratory measures such as depression and anxiety, quality of life, and their perceived adaptive functioning post-intervention. The results reveal that only participants from the biofeedback device group reported a significant reduction in Test Anxiety symptoms (p’s < 0.05). Participants from the biofeedback device group also reported a decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms and an increase in psychological wellbeing (p’s < 0.05), a subscale of the quality of life questionnaire. Findings support the notion that using biofeedback respiratory devices may reduce students’ Test Anxiety symptoms. Indications for further research are discussed.

考试焦虑是一种普遍存在的心理现象。大学生的患病率为 20-40%，它阻碍了适应性功能和生活质量。许多可用的测试焦虑症治疗方法涉及临床医生的干预，通常需要几个月的时间才能报告症状减轻。目前的随机对照试验检查了一种简单的行为干预——使用呼吸工具——作为测试焦虑的独家疗法。具体来说，检查了生物反馈呼吸练习装置的功效。34 名学生在考试期间被分配到 3 个治疗组：生物反馈装置组、自主呼吸练习组和心理教育组。在干预前和干预后收集了测试焦虑的自我报告措施。参与者还报告了额外的探索性措施，如抑郁和焦虑、生活质量以及他们在干预后感知的适应性功能。结果表明，只有生物反馈设备组的参与者报告测试焦虑症状显着减少。p 's < 0.05)。来自生物反馈设备组的参与者还报告了抑郁和焦虑症状的减少以及心理健康的增加（p < 0.05），这是生活质量问卷的一个子量表。调查结果支持使用生物反馈呼吸设备可以减少学生的考试焦虑症状的观点。讨论了进一步研究的指征。