Brief Meditation on Test Anxiety of Eighth Grade Chinese Students: Chain-Mediating Roles of Mindfulness and Self-Efficacy
Ning Yue, Chieh Li, Shangwen Si, Shanshan Xu, Qin Zhang, Lixia Cui
School Mental Health May 20, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s12310-024-09652-y (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA brief meditation intervention (BMI) culturally tailored for Chinese eighth graders reduced test anxiety and increased mindfulness and self-efficacy over time. The intervention included guided meditation, relaxation music, mindful breathing, body scanning, and positive suggestions. In a study of 202 students from six classes in a Beijing junior high school, classes were assigned to either a BMI group or a control group. Measurements taken before, during, immediately after, and one month after the intervention showed that BMI significantly lowered test anxiety and boosted mindfulness and self-efficacy. Mindfulness and self-efficacy together mediated 68.35% of the intervention's effect on test anxiety.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental (non-randomized group assignment) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 202 |
| Population | Chinese eighth graders at an urban junior high school in Beijing |
| Intervention | Brief meditation intervention (BMI) |
| Duration | One-month follow-up after the intervention |
| Keywords | Psychology Education |
| Key finding | A brief meditation intervention significantly reduced test anxiety and enhanced mindfulness and self-efficacy, with mindfulness and self-efficacy mediating 68.35% of the intervention's effect on test anxiety. |
Abstract
Numerous studies have revealed an alarming prevalence of test anxiety among Chinese junior high school students. Prevention of test anxiety in this population has become crucial. Brief meditation intervention (BMI) has shown promising results for promoting students’ well-being and reducing test anxiety, but its mechanism for reducing test anxiety remains unknown. This study examined the effects of BMI and the roles mindfulness and self-efficacy play in mediating between the intervention and test anxiety. The BMI was optimized in content and form and culturally tailored for Chinese eighth graders. It includes guided meditation with relaxation music, mindful breathing and body scanning, and positive suggestions that promote self-efficacy. Six eighth grade classes at an urban junior high school in Beijing (N = 202, Mage = 14.14, 102 males) were assigned to either a BMI group (3 classes, N = 103) or a control group (3 classes, N = 99). Test anxiety, mindfulness, and self-efficacy measures were administered before, in the middle of, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA and mediation analysis indicated that BMI had a significant effect on reducing test anxiety and enhancing mindfulness and self-efficacy over time. The study also found that mindfulness and self-efficacy played a chain of mediating roles in the relationship between BMI and test anxiety. The mediation effect value accounted for 68.35% of the intervention effects.