Abstract
Test anxiety may be a contributing factor to low-performing examination scores among students. There can be numerous physiological responses in the body that lead to test anxiety. One is the body’s response to stress, which activates the brain to release hormones that stimulate central and peripheral nervous responses. The hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is a known responder during stress, causing an elevation of cortisol in the blood, a glucocorticoid (GC) hormone that affects sympathetic nervous responses. Stressors during testing include the method of information delivered, prior knowledge of the subject material, emotional state, or how accurately the student can retain knowledge. A student’s emotional state of mind is essential and may cause hyperactivation of the HPA axis during stress encountered during testing, exacerbating cortisol levels and nervous responsiveness. This review discusses the potential involvement of the HPA stress axis on an individual’s performance during testing and assessment.
Highlights
Stresses 2022, 2, 146–155. https://There is an increasing emphasis on testing, especially in math and reading achievement, for national development, economic competitiveness, and fostering of autonomy [1].many students suffer from anxiety because of the stress that ensues from such competitiveness [2,3]
Test anxiety is a significant factor contributing to lower academic performance and test scores, as previous studies have shown that test anxiety is associated with lower academic performance among students [10–13]
Developing an understanding of test anxiety in teachers, parents, scientists, clinicians, and professionals may help toward improving methods to help students cope during examinations and improve performance
Summary
There is an increasing emphasis on testing, especially in math and reading achievement, for national development, economic competitiveness, and fostering of autonomy [1]. The secretion of CRH activates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary that enters the blood and activates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol, the most dominant glucocorticoid (GC) in humans. GCs cause rapid suppression and management of overgrowth of T cells [22], and because of this, they are the number one prescribed anti-inflammatory drug For these reasons, physiological stress that increases blood levels of cortisol may lead to hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, decreased protein in bone and muscle, hyperlipemia, infection, or decreased ACTH [23]. As a consequence of chronic stress, such as repeated test anxiety, over-stimulation by cortisol cortisol can lead to the indicated deleterious side effects in the brain and central nervous system.
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