AnxietyNCT07258719
Aromatherapy's Impact on Test Anxiety in College Students: A Mixed Methods Study
A study testing Essential Oil 1 and Essential Oil 2 in people with Anxiety, run by Jenalee Hinds at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 99 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- Essential Oil 1 and Essential Oil 2
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 18 Sep 2025to 18 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- current student
- participating in selected course at the University
Who cannot join
- allergy to essential oils
- pregnant
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this 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.
- Conditions
- Anxiety
- Being tested
- Essential Oil 1, Essential Oil 2
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Essential Oil 1Other
Also called ADAPTIV
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.
Essential Oil 2Other
Also called Thinker
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| aromatherapy intervention 1 | Experimental | participants applying their assigned essential oil (ADAPTIV or Thinker) prior to quizzes/tests Receives: Other: Essential Oil 1 |
| aromatherapy intervention 2 | Experimental | participants applying their assigned essential oil (ADAPTIV or Thinker) prior to quizzes/tests Receives: Other: Essential Oil 2 |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS)
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.
Measured: Baseline and Week 12
Change in heart rate (HR) pre aromatherapy
heart rate will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests
Measured: week 3 and week 4
Change in blood pressure (BP) pre aromatherapy
both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests
Measured: week 3 and week 4
Change in heart rate (HR) with aromatherapy
heart rate will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests
Measured: Week 5 through Week 12
Change in blood pressure (BP) with aromatherapy
both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured with a fitness tracker before and after quizzes/tests
Measured: Week 5 through Week 12
Change in Stress Performance Evaluation (SPE)
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)]
Measured: Baseline and week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Dec 2025
- Study start18 Sep 2025
- Primary completion18 Dec 2025
- Study completion18 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Jenalee Hinds
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Jenalee Hinds, University of Kentucky
- Investigators
- Jenalee Hinds, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Kentucky
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07258719
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 105250
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Aromatherapy's Impact on Test Anxiety in College Students: A Mixed Methods Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07258719
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 105250
- Conditions
- Anxiety
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Jenalee HindsUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 18 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 18 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| aromatherapy intervention 1 | Experimental | Other: Essential Oil 1participants applying their assigned essential oil (ADAPTIV or Thinker) prior to quizzes/tests |
| aromatherapy intervention 2 | Experimental | Other: Essential Oil 2participants applying their assigned essential oil (ADAPTIV or Thinker) prior to quizzes/tests |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- current student
- participating in selected course at the University
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- allergy to essential oils
- pregnant
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Oil 1Also: ADAPTIVParticipants 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 | aromatherapy intervention 1 |
| Essential Oil 2Also: ThinkerParticipants 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 | aromatherapy intervention 2 |
Primary outcome
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.
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
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
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
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
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)]
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jenalee Hinds, PhD principal investigator
University of Kentucky
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Essential Oil 1 and Essential Oil 2 in people with Anxiety, run by Jenalee Hinds at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS) (time frame: Baseline and Week 12). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Feb 2026.