Therapeutic hypnosis as a treatment for academic stress: a literature review
Keywords:
Therapeutic hypnosis, academic stress, mental health, performance, student retentionAbstract
Introduction: Academic stress is a prevalent issue in the university setting, affecting student performance, mental health, and retention. Therapeutic hypnosis has emerged as a complementary intervention with a growing body of evidence. This research aims to synthesize the scientific literature on the effectiveness of hypnosis in managing academic stress, with a focus on findings from Cuba and the rest of the world. Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted by searching databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO, as well as institutional repositories. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and experimental studies published between 2000 and 2026 were selected. Results: International findings consistently show significant reductions in test anxiety and perceived stress, alongside improvements in executive function and emotional regulation. In Cuba, a quasi-experimental study demonstrated that hypnotherapy modified personality traits and reduced vulnerability to stress among law students. Discussion: Hypnosis acts through cognitive-behavioral and psychophysiological mechanisms, making it a viable, cost-effective, and low-risk alternative. Conclusions: The evidence supports the inclusion of hypnosis in university wellness programs; however, further randomized controlled trials—with long-term follow-up and tailored to the Cuban context—are required.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Glenda Caridad Ramírez Barallobre, Fidel Vázquez Garay, Alberto E. Cobián Mena
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