Hypnotherapy as a Psychological Coping Strategy amid Modern Social Uncertainty

This study investigates hypnotherapy adoption as a psychological coping strategy amid modern social uncertainty. Drawing on the Stress and Coping Theory, the research examines the relationships between perceived social uncertainty, psychological coping needs, and hypnotherapy adoption, as well as the mediating role of psychological coping needs. A quantitative explanatory design was employed using a cross-sectional survey method. Data were collected through an online questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale. The sample size was determined based on the guideline proposed by Hair et al. (2021), which recommends a minimum sample size of ten times the total number of indicators. With 15 indicators included in the model, the minimum required sample size was 150 respondents. To enhance statistical robustness, data were collected from 200 respondents who were familiar with hypnotherapy as a coping method. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that perceived social uncertainty significantly influences psychological coping needs and hypnotherapy adoption. Psychological coping needs also have a significant effect on hypnotherapy adoption and fully mediate the relationship between social uncertainty and hypnotherapy adoption. These findings suggest that hypnotherapy is primarily adopted as an emotion-focused coping response to heightened uncertainty rather than as a direct reaction to external stressors. The study contributes to coping theory by positioning hypnotherapy within a psychological coping framework relevant to contemporary social conditions.