Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study
ABSTRACTAlthough mindfulness is effective in reducing anxiety, research on its impact on test anxiety among lower secondary school children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related disciplines is limited. Using a one-group pre – post-test research design, this pilot study...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2242478 |
| Summary: | ABSTRACTAlthough mindfulness is effective in reducing anxiety, research on its impact on test anxiety among lower secondary school children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related disciplines is limited. Using a one-group pre – post-test research design, this pilot study evaluated the impact of classroom mindfulness meditation training on test anxiety in STEM-related disciplines with 197 sixth-grade students (54.3% boys, aged 10–12 years) from public schools in Kosovo. Mindfulness training significantly decreased students’ test anxiety levels in STEM-related disciplines. Mindfulness helped students calm down, reduced their academic anxiety, and increased their self-esteem. A significant decrease in test anxiety among participants who reported that the training improved their self-esteem and reduced their academic anxiety and stress was ascertained. Regarding sex differences, meditation activities significantly decreased test anxiety scores among girls. Mindfulness training can be employed as a stress-reduction strategy that can be easily incorporated into classroom pedagogy. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |