Effectiveness of Mindfulness Meditation in Controlling Test Anxiety among Ninth Grade Students in Different Levels of Achievement
T. Muraleedharan, N. K Arjunan, T. Deepthi
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) August 12, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21899193 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 166 |
| Population | Standard IX students from four intact divisions of a Government Higher Secondary School in Kerala |
| Duration | Eight structured sessions supplemented by regular mindfulness practice |
| Measures | Test Anxiety Scale for Secondary School Students |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness Meditation significantly reduced test anxiety among secondary school students after controlling for pretest scores, with a large effect (F = 444.276, p < .001, partial η² = .730). Effectiveness varied by achievement level, with average- and high-achieving students benefiting more than low-achieving students. |
Abstract
The present study investigated the effectiveness of Mindfulness Meditation in reducing test anxiety among secondary school students and examined whether its effectiveness varied according to students’ levels of academic achievement. A quasi-experimental pretest–post-test control group design was employed. The participants comprised 166 Standard IX students from four intact divisions of a Government Higher Secondary School in Kerala. One division served as the Control Group, while the remaining three constituted the Treatment Group. Test anxiety was assessed using the Test Anxiety Scale for Secondary School Students (Arjunan & Bindu, 2021). The Treatment Group underwent a modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme consisting of eight structured sessions supplemented by regular mindfulness practice. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANCOVA, and one-way ANOVA. The findings revealed no significant initial difference in test anxiety among students belonging to different achievement levels. After controlling for pre-test scores, Mindfulness Meditation produced a significant reduction in test anxiety, with a large treatment effect (F = 444.276, p < .001, partial η² = .730). The effectiveness of the intervention also differed significantly according to academic achievement, with average- and high-achieving students showing greater reductions than low-achieving students. The findings support Mindfulness Meditation as an effective psycho-pedagogical strategy for managing test anxiety among secondary school students.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience | 2013 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 15 |
| Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults | 2009 | Quasi-experimental and longitudinal | n = 69 |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |