Effectiveness of spiritual emotional freedom technique (SEFT) therapy in reducing dysmenorrhea pain intensity among women of reproductive age

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique (SEFT) in reducing dysmenorrhea pain intensity among women of reproductive age. However, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of SEFT for dysmenorrhea pain management, particularly using experimental designs, remains limited. A quasi-experimental study with a one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted at PMB Lina, Palembang City. A total of 30 women experiencing mild to moderate primary dysmenorrhea were included using a total population sampling technique. The SEFT intervention consisted of guided sessions involving set-up affirmations, tune-in focus, and tapping on specific acupressure points for approximately 20–25 minutes. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The results showed a significant decrease in dysmenorrhea pain intensity after the SEFT intervention. Before treatment, most respondents experienced moderate pain, while after the intervention, the majority reported mild pain, and several respondents experienced a substantial reduction in discomfort. Statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between pretest and posttest pain scores (p < 0.05). In conclusion, SEFT therapy is effective in reducing dysmenorrhea pain intensity and can be recommended as a safe, practical, and low-cost complementary non-pharmacological intervention for menstrual pain management.