Teacher Anxiety Program for Elementary Students (TAPES): An Open Trial

Problematic anxiety in students impairs academic functioning. Teachers are often the first among school personnel to interact with these students, but they rarely receive training in evidence-based anxiety reduction strategies. This study assessed the feasibility of a brief teacher-administered school-home intervention (TAPES; Teacher Anxiety Program for Elementary Students) to reduce student anxiety symptoms. Eight elementary teachers completed a 1-day training and administered TAPES to 10 students with elevated symptoms of anxiety (M age: 8 years old; 50% female; 90% Caucasian). Feasibility of the intervention was assessed using several indicators, including training and intervention satisfaction as well as fidelity of implementation. Pre-post intervention student outcomes were collected from parents, students, and teachers. Results indicated that the majority of teachers were satisfied with the training and reported the intervention was feasible. Paired t-tests on pre-post outcome measures revealed significant reductions in student anxiety symptoms according to teachers and parents. Preliminary results suggest TAPES is feasible and helpful in reducing anxiety symptoms. Additional evaluation using a randomized controlled design is warranted.