Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Test Anxiety Phenomena among University Nursing Students

An open-label randomized trial with 200 undergraduate nursing students compared two meditation techniques—Vipassana and Shamatha—for reducing test anxiety. Before the intervention, both groups had high test anxiety scores (medians of 3.0 or higher), low positive automatic thoughts, and high negative affect with low positive affect. After one month of small-group sessions, both techniques significantly decreased test anxiety and negative affect while increasing positive automatic thoughts and positive affect. Multivariate analysis identified meditation technique as the main predictor of improvements. Shamatha had a slightly better effect on test anxiety scores. Both techniques are easily taught and acceptable to students.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Test anxiety is a universal phenomenon affecting students at all levels. Efforts are needed to help students get and use coping strategies to alleviate such anxiety. The study aim was to investigate the effects of two specific types of meditation, namely Vipassana and Shamatha techniques, on test anxiety among nursing students. This open-label randomized trial was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Beni-Suef University. It included 200 undergraduate Nursing students randomized into two intervention groups. Four tools of data collection were used in this study: (1)A self-administered questionnaire with the ‎(2) Revised Test Anxiety Scale (TA), (3) the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Positive (ATQ-P)‎, (4) and ‎ the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) was used for data collection. The students in each group received the study intervention in small groups over one-month. The main results showed that the students in both groups had high pre-intervention scores of TA, with medians of 3.0 or higher, low scores of (ATQ-P), and high PANAS negative were low PANAS positive scores. The interventions led to significant decreases in TA and negative PANAS scores, with increases in ATQ-P and PANAS positive scores in the two groups (p<0.001). The multivariate analysis identified the use of meditation technique as the main negative predictor of the TA and PANAS -ve score, and a main positive predictor of the ATQ-P and PANAS +ve scores. Conclusion: Shamatha technique had a better effect on TA score. Vipassana or Shamatha meditation techniques can alleviate nursing students. The techniques are easily taught and are acceptable by students. Study recommended that, Boost students' competence to manage stress and anxiety by using mindfulness meditation techniques and developing interventions that can provide students with support as they fight with a test anxiety problem.