Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study

Zamira Hyseni Duraku; Jon Konjufca; Linda Hoxha; Artë Blakaj; Blerinë Bytyqi; Erona Mjekiqi; Shkurtë Bajgora

doi:10.1080/02673843.2023.2242478

Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study

Zamira Hyseni Duraku, Jon Konjufca, Linda Hoxha, Artë Blakaj, Blerinë Bytyqi, Erona Mjekiqi, Shkurtë Bajgora

International Journal of Adolescence and Youth August 4, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2023.2242478 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract

Characteristics	One-group pre-post pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size	197
Population	Sixth-grade students (54.3% boys, aged 10–12 years) from public schools in Kosovo
Intervention	classroom mindfulness meditation training
Topics	Anxiety Meditation
Citations	12
Key points	Mindfulness training significantly decreased test anxiety levels in STEM-related disciplines. Students reported that it helped them calm down, reduced academic anxiety, and increased self-esteem, and those reporting improved self-esteem and reduced anxiety and stress showed a significant decrease in test anxiety. Meditation activities significantly decreased test anxiety scores among girls.

Abstract

Although mindfulness is effective in reducing anxiety, research on its impact on test anxiety among lower secondary school children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related disciplines is limited. Using a one-group pre – post-test research design, this pilot study evaluated the impact of classroom mindfulness meditation training on test anxiety in STEM-related disciplines with 197 sixth-grade students (54.3% boys, aged 10–12 years) from public schools in Kosovo. Mindfulness training significantly decreased students’ test anxiety levels in STEM-related disciplines. Mindfulness helped students calm down, reduced their academic anxiety, and increased their self-esteem. A significant decrease in test anxiety among participants who reported that the training improved their self-esteem and reduced their academic anxiety and stress was ascertained. Regarding sex differences, meditation activities significantly decreased test anxiety scores among girls. Mindfulness training can be employed as a stress-reduction strategy that can be easily incorporated into classroom pedagogy.

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Citations in the library

Cited by 2

Cites 8

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