Using an Online-Based Mindfulness Intervention to Reduce Test Anxiety in Physics Students
John B. Chancey, Benjamin C. Heddy, Marie Lippmann, E. Abraham
Journal of Cognitive Enhancement April 13, 2023 DOI: 10.1007/s41465-023-00261-2 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Students in an introductory physics II course |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, with assessments at pre, mid, and post time points |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | The 8-week online mindfulness intervention did not significantly change test anxiety or physics quiz scores relative to a no-training control group. Emotional regulation positively predicted mindfulness at the final time point, whereas attentional regulation negatively predicted it. The authors suggest further research is needed on mindfulness-based interventions in STEM settings. |
Abstract
Using an 8-week mindfulness intervention, we investigated the mechanisms of mindfulness to address test anxiety in introductory physics II. Our goal was to explore the effectiveness of using an 8-week online mindfulness intervention to address student test anxiety. We used self-report measures to assess participants on mindfulness, emotional regulation, attentional regulation, and physics quiz scores at three-time points—time 1 (pre), time 2 (mid), and time 3. Participants in the mindfulness condition received 8 weeks of mindfulness training while the control group was used as a baseline for comparison with no mindfulness training. The 8-week online-based mindfulness intervention resulted in non-significant changes in test anxiety and quiz scores for the treatment compared to the control. Additionally, results from multiple regression modeling suggest that emotional regulation positively predicted mindfulness at time 3 (T3) of data collection, whereas attentional regulation negatively predicted mindfulness at T3. These findings have both theoretical and practical implications. Our findings suggest more research is needed to investigate the usefulness of mindfulness-based interventions in STEM-related settings.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Effect of online mindfulness intervention on anxiety, depression, and stress in patients with chronic diseases. Explore July 8, 2025
- MAPPING THE RESEARCH LANDSCAPE OF MINDFULNESS INTERVENTION AND MATHEMATICS ANXIETY: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management Practices June 18, 2026
- Mindfulness for test anxiety and negative self-evaluation in high school Current Psychology October 1, 2024
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