Emotional Freedom Techniques (tapping) to Improve Wellbeing and Reduce Anxiety in Primary School Classrooms

The use of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) as a classroom exercise was investigated to ascertain its effectiveness for student well-being. Although EFT has been validated in clinical settings, previous research has not established whether this approach can be applied in classrooms to reduce anxiety and improve student well-being. A pragmatic, mixed-methods study was conducted with 138 primary school students in northern Australia. Student anxiety decreased over two intervention stages. In addition to whole-class tapping sessions, students sometimes tapped discreetly, and teachers occasionally applied tapping for themselves. Students generally preferred a quieter, more individual approach during class tapping sessions. Broader themes derived from student and teacher data suggested that tapping is a mechanism for change, the skills are transferable, and, as expected, tapping is not always effective. EFT supports social and emotional learning and aligns with the Australian school curriculum. Overall, the findings suggest that EFT used in classrooms can benefit students and teachers.