Influence of Bilateral Tactile Stimulation on Emotional Reprocessingin the PASER Technique in University Students

Abstract

The Assisted Processing in Recent Stressful Situations (PASER, for its Spanish acronym) technique was developed as a brief intervention aimed at the adaptive reprocessing of recent stressful experiences. Although it includes bilateral tactile stimulation (tapping), its specific impact has not yet been empirically
evaluated. This study aimed to analyze the influence of tapping on reducing emotional distress in university students. A quantitative design with pre-post repeated measures and non-probabilistic sampling (N = 206) was used. Participants were assigned to three groups, two with tapping and one without tapping. The Emotional State Self Perception Inventory (APEEM) was administered to assess emotional disturbance before and after the intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant decrease in emotional distress after PASER application (p < .001), with no significant differences between the tapping and no-tapping groups (p > .999). Results confirm the effectiveness of PASER in reducing emotional distress, but suggest that bilateral tactile stimulation is not a determining factor in immediate change. These findings support the applicability of PASER as a brief and feasible intervention in preventive and educational contexts. Future studies on the mechanisms of action of the technique and associated neurocognitive processes are recommended.