An exploratory study of the relationship between a student's anxiety level and that of their peers in the same classroom

Abstract

Test anxiety (arising during evaluation situations) can play a role in the well-being of youth. Although various factors have been studied to identify the origin of test anxiety, very few studies have assessed the role that peers play for test anxiety. Yet, it is well known that peers influence youth, particularly in the classroom where students often adopt the same behaviour as their classmates. This study assessed the relationship between a student's level of test anxiety and that of their classmates. No hypotheses were formulated as this study was exploratory. Data was collected in Montreal schools (Canada) from a cohort of 302 students aged 10 to 12 during their fifth and sixth grade school years. Test anxiety was assessed using the Children's Test Anxiety Scale. Mixed linear regressions revealed that a student's level of test anxiety was not significantly associated with their classmates' levels of test anxiety (F=0.57, p>0.5, BH0 = 1.80). Being surrounded by anxious students may not be a strong predictor of a student's anxiety level. This study was one of the first to assess the role of classmates on anxiety, which is vital for a broader understanding of the nature of youth's anxiety.