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: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2242478 |
| _version_ | 1797387320956026880 |
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| author | Zamira Hyseni Duraku Jon Konjufca Linda Hoxha Artë Blakaj Blerinë Bytyqi Erona Mjekiqi Shkurtë Bajgora |
| author_facet | Zamira Hyseni Duraku Jon Konjufca Linda Hoxha Artë Blakaj Blerinë Bytyqi Erona Mjekiqi Shkurtë Bajgora |
| author_sort | Zamira Hyseni Duraku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:23:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a87b0cfe14f496a8c70ec046bb6188c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:23:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a87b0cfe14f496a8c70ec046bb6188c2023-12-18T12:05:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272023-12-0128110.1080/02673843.2023.2242478Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot studyZamira Hyseni Duraku0Jon Konjufca1Linda Hoxha2Artë Blakaj3Blerinë Bytyqi4Erona Mjekiqi5Shkurtë Bajgora6Department of Psychology, University of Prishtina ”Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtinë, KosovoDepartment of Psychology, University of Prishtina ”Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtinë, KosovoDepartment of Psychology, University of Prishtina ”Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtinë, KosovoDepartment of Psychology, University of Prishtina ”Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtinë, KosovoDepartment of Psychology, University of Prishtina ”Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtinë, KosovoDepartment of Psychology, University of Prishtina ”Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtinë, KosovoDepartment of Psychology, University of Prishtina ”Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtinë, KosovoABSTRACTAlthough 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.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2242478MindfulnessSTEMtest anxietylower secondary schoolstudentssex |
| spellingShingle | Zamira Hyseni Duraku Jon Konjufca Linda Hoxha Artë Blakaj Blerinë Bytyqi Erona Mjekiqi Shkurtë Bajgora Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Mindfulness STEM test anxiety lower secondary school students sex |
| title | Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study |
| title_full | Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study |
| title_short | Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study |
| title_sort | reducing stem test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children a pilot study |
| topic | Mindfulness STEM test anxiety lower secondary school students sex |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2023.2242478 |
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