ORCID
- Jackie Andrade: 0000-0002-6626-7192
- Stephanie Hartgen-Walker: 0009-0004-2939-2164
- Jonathan Rhodes: 0000-0002-7921-8242
Abstract
Objectives: Many university students experience high anxiety but have limited access to effective interventions. We evaluated a novel digital intervention for anxiety based on functional imagery training (FIT), designed to help individuals identify the impacts of anxiety, set engagement goals, and strengthen motivation for change. Functional Imagery for Keeping Anxiety low (FIKA) uses speak-aloud tasks, journalling, empathic questions, and personalised guided imagery for a person-centred approach. It builds motivation for engagement goals over safety goals through development and practice of vivid and emotionally laden multisensory imagery. Design: Study 1 used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to explore user experiences of FIKA. Study 2 compared anxiety pre- and post-FIKA and waitlist using frequentist and Bayesian approaches, with content analysis of FIKA experiences. Methods: Both studies recruited university students who self-identified as experiencing anxiety, assessed using GAD-7 at baseline and follow-up. In Study 1, participants (N = 12) completed FIKA over a two-week period before returning for interview in Week 3. Study 2 participants (N = 60) were assigned to either FIKA or waitlist, then completed Week 2 assessments and, for waitlist, were offered FIKA. Results: Quantitative and qualitative analyses supported a reduction in anxiety following FIKA, with qualitative responses supporting the hypothesised role of mental imagery and the empathic, person-centred approach. Conclusions: FIKA seems a promising digital intervention for anxiety that users found acceptable and helpful. The focus on gently building skills in self-motivation for engagement may encourage students experiencing anxiety to use it early to prevent anxiety becoming a chronic problem.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2026-01-21
Publication Title
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Volume
198
ISSN
0005-7967
Acceptance Date
2026-01-12
Deposit Date
2026-02-16
Funding
None
Additional Links
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2026.104962, https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105028322948
Keywords
Anxiety, Behaviour change, Digital intervention, Mental health, Mental imagery, Motivational interviewing, Person-centred
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Andrade, J., Hartgen-Walker, S., Morgan, C., Ayan., Aytekin, I., Sekoni, K., Sengul, K., & Rhodes, J. (2026) 'Self-guided functional imagery training to reduce anxiety', Behaviour Research and Therapy, 198. Available at: 10.1016/j.brat.2026.104962
