Development and feasibility of a group-based psychomotor intervention for anxiety in young adults

Anxiety often feels like a storm that lives inside the body, a tightness in the chest or a racing heart that seems to have no clear cause. For many young adults, especially those navigating the pressures of university life, this feeling is common enough to be a public health concern, yet it often falls short of the threshold required for specialized medical treatment. Traditional ways of managing these feelings usually rely on talking, helping people change the way they think about their worries. However, a growing body of research suggests that emotions are not just thoughts; they are also physical experiences rooted in how we sense our own bodies. This idea, known as interoception, proposes that by learning to notice and regulate physical sensations, a person might be better able to calm their mind. If this connection holds true, then interventions that combine movement, touch, and group support could offer a new path for those who need help but do not have a clinical diagnosis.

In Denmark, a team of researchers set out to test whether a specific type of therapy called psychomotor therapy could work in a university setting. This approach, which blends bodily awareness with movement and social connection, had not been thoroughly studied for anxiety in young adults who were not in crisis. The researchers wanted to know if such a program could be delivered successfully to a group of students and if the students would find it acceptable and helpful. They designed a ten-week course where participants met for two and a half hours each week. The sessions were not just about sitting and talking; they involved physical exercises, learning about how stress affects the body, and practicing ways to regulate those feelings through movement. The goal was to see if this mind-body approach could be a practical resource for students struggling with anxiety symptoms.

The study involved twelve young adults, aged between twenty and thirty-three, who reported having anxiety symptoms. These participants were recruited from a university campus in Aarhus. The researchers faced a challenge right from the start: finding people willing to commit to a ten-week program during the busy academic year. Recruitment was difficult, largely because the sign-up period overlapped with exam seasons and the start of a new semester, times when students are overwhelmed with other demands. Only twelve people ultimately joined the study. Of those, one person never showed up, and three others dropped out early in the process, mostly due to changes in their work schedules or the start of new medical treatments. This left eight participants who completed the full course, representing a completion rate of about seventy-three percent for those who actually attended at least one session.

Despite the small numbers and the initial hurdles, the researchers found that the program was feasible and well-received by those who stayed. The participants described the group as a safe space where they felt less alone in their struggles. A key factor in keeping people engaged was the flexibility built into the sessions. The therapists did not force anyone to do every exercise; instead, they encouraged participants to listen to their own bodies and step back if they felt uncomfortable. This sense of choice seemed to reduce the pressure that often makes people with anxiety avoid treatment. Many participants noted that while the physical exercises sometimes felt unfamiliar or even slightly challenging at first, the supportive atmosphere allowed them to gradually become more comfortable with moving their bodies and paying attention to their internal sensations.

The experience of the group itself proved to be a powerful element. Participants spoke about the relief of being in a room with others who understood what it was like to feel anxious, without the need to explain their personal histories or justify their limits. This shared experience helped normalize their feelings and reduced the shame that often accompanies anxiety. Interestingly, the physical nature of the work, which some might have feared would be too intense, turned out to be a source of strength. Many participants found that exercises focusing on strength and applying force helped them feel more in control and gave them a clearer sense of their own boundaries. The group dynamic evolved over the ten weeks, moving from initial hesitation to a place of mutual trust and informal support, with members checking in on each other when someone missed a session.

When the researchers looked at the changes in the participants' reported symptoms, the results pointed in a positive direction, though the small size of the group means these findings are preliminary. Those who finished the program reported lower levels of anxiety and perceived stress, and an increase in their overall sense of well-being. They also showed improvements in their ability to regulate their attention and trust their own bodily sensations. However, the researchers were careful to note that these numbers are not a final proof of effectiveness. The participants who dropped out early tended to have higher levels of anxiety at the start, which suggests that the program might be particularly relevant for those with more severe symptoms, but it also highlights a need to find better ways to keep them engaged.

The study concluded that a group-based psychomotor intervention is a viable option for young adults with anxiety in an educational setting. It showed that such a program can be delivered without causing harm and that participants generally found it meaningful and manageable. The success of the program seemed to rely heavily on the balance between structure and flexibility, allowing students to participate at their own pace while still benefiting from the collective energy of the group. While the researchers cannot yet say definitively that this approach cures anxiety, the results suggest it is a promising avenue worth exploring further. The next step would be a larger, more controlled study to see if these positive effects hold up when tested on a bigger scale and to understand exactly how the combination of movement, group support, and bodily awareness helps people feel better.