The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the test anxiety of Students at the University of Garmian

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on reducing of test anxiety in students. The research method was Quasi experimental with pretest-posttest and control groups. The statistical population consisted of all students at the University of Garmian in the 2017-2018 academic years. Sample was selected among them by using the result of Spielberger's Test Anxiety, 30 students who had high scores on test anxiety (one standard deviation above the mean group), were selected and randomly assigned in two experimental and control group. Experimental groups, received 8 sessions of mindfulness-based stress reduction program. For collecting data Spielberger's Test Anxiety was used. The data were analyzed by ANCOVA statistical method. The results showed that there are significant differences between the experimental and control groups. Mindfulness-based stress reduction was influential in reducing test anxiety in students. There was also significant difference between the two groups considering the gender, that in girls, mindfulness-based stress reduction program in comparison with the boys was more effective in reducing test anxiety of students. Therefore, the research hypothesis was approved. So we can conclude that training of mindfulness-based stress reduction is effective in reducing test anxiety especially in girls.