BODYBALANCE and Exam Stress
This study highlights how BODYBALANCE™ workouts can ease pre-exam anxiety. We found that when the nursing students did BODYBALANCE before their exam, they significantly reduced their anxiety levels. However, that reduction in anxiety didn’t happen when they spent the same amount of time reading their notes before the exam.
INTRODUCTION
Reducing anxiety can help with exam performance – previous research has shown that breathing techniques and relaxation training can help – but we weren’t sure if performing BODYBALANCE™ directly before an exam would be beneficial.
HYPOTHESIS
We hypothesized that a BODYBALANCE workout would decrease pre-test anxiety, with positive impact on psychological and physiological measures of stress.
METHOD
We split 13 nursing students into two groups – one group completed a live BODYBALANCE session focusing on sun salutations and standing strength poses directly before a mock exam. The other students were asked to spend the time reading their notes, as per a typical pre-exam cramming session. The following week, the same students did the same thing but flipped groups. So the group that had done the pre-exam cramming session in week one, now did the BODYBALANCE session before the exam. The group that had done the BODYBALANCE session in week one, did the typical cramming before the exam.
RESULTS
When the nursing students did BODYBALANCE before their exam, they significantly reduced their anxiety levels. However, that reduction in anxiety didn’t happen when they spent the same amount of time reading their notes before the exam.
CONCLUSION
An acute bout of BODYBALANCE prior to a simulated exam had a positive impact on subjective measures of stress including anxiety and mood compared to participants in the control condition.
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More about the author
Bryce Hastings
Bryce Hastings drives the science behind the sweat, leading world class research that shapes how millions of people train. Working alongside internationally renowned research partners, Bryce bridges the gap between the lab and the gym floor, ensuring every LES MILLS™ program is safe, effective, and powered by science.
He has developed numerous research programs and co authored reports across a range of fitness and scientific publications. These include the landmark Get Fit Together trial, alongside research into core conditioning, high intensity interval training, and exercise strategies for sedentary individuals.
A certified Physical Therapist since 1986, Bryce’s academic work is supported by extensive hands on experience. He owned a private practice within the original Les Mills World of Fitness in Auckland and holds an Advanced Diploma in Manipulative Therapy and a Master of Philosophy from Auckland University of Technology, where he serves as a Research Associate and lectured part time for eight years.
