The Effect of Mindfulness Programs on Collegiate Test Anxiety
Mindfulness October 21, 2022 Nathaniel P. Priebe, B. Kurtz-Costes
Test anxiety affects about one-fifth of college students and is linked to worse exam performance and retention. In a randomized trial, 71 undergraduates were assigned to a six-week mindfulness condition, a three-week mindfulness condition, or a six-week sham mindfulness active control. All groups completed weekly meditations and written reflections. Increases in mindfulness correlated with decreased test anxiety (r = -.48). Self-reported mindfulness increased and test anxiety decreased across all conditions, but changes did not differ by group, offering no support for greater efficacy of the longer intervention. Even the sham control showed benefits, raising questions about what effects are specific to mindfulness. Online interventions appear effective for reducing test anxiety, but further research is needed on intervention length and content.