Pengaruh Deep Breathing Terhadap Kecemasan Akademik pada Remaja di MAN 1 Kutacane Kabupaten Aceh Tenggara

Abstract

Academic anxiety is one of the common issues faced by adolescents, particularly among high school students. This condition may arise from high academic demands, parental expectations, peer competition, andpressure to achieve optimal performance. One effective non-pharmacological method to reduce academic anxiety is deep breathing therapy. This study aimed to analyze the effect ofdeep breathing therapy on academic anxiety among adolescents. The research used a quasi-experimental design with a two-group pretest-posttest approach. The total sample consisted of 100 respondents selected through purposive sampling, with 50 participants in each group. Before the intervention, the intervention group was predominantly experiencing severe anxiety (74.0%) and moderate anxiety (26.0%). After receiving deep breathing therapy, most respondents showed a reduction in anxiety levels, with 88.0% reporting mild anxiety and 12.0% moderate anxiety. Data analysis showed a significant effect in reducing academic anxiety in the intervention group before and after the intervention (p-value = 0.000). The control group also showed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-test without any intervention (p-value = 0. 002). Thesefindings suggest that deep breathing therapy is effective in reducing academic anxiety in adolescents. It is recommended that schools, educators, and healthcare providers within educational settings consider incorporating deep breathing therapy as a simple. independent, and effective non pharmacological approach in student mental health programs to help manage academic anxiety.