The Relation between Test Anxiety and Mental Health in Adolescents

No, Ji Yeong

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between test anxiety and mental health in adolescents. METHOD: The subjects were 450 students of two academic high schools in J City, who were selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected through a survey using a structured questionnaire from September 1st to 15th 2005. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 for Windows through descriptive analysis, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test and stepwise multiple regression. RESULT: The mean score of test anxiety was 2.40 (range:1.13-3.81) and that of mental health was 2.77 (range:0.64-5.03). A significant negative correlation was observed between test anxiety and mental health (r=-0.28, p=.000). Test anxiety was significantly different according to adolescents' general characters such as gender (t=-1.98, p=.048), grade (F=3.54, p=.030), school life satisfaction (F=10.73, p=.000) and relationship with the teacher (F=11.60, p=.000). Mental health was significantly different according to adolescents' general characters such as religion (t=2.14, p=.032) and school life satisfaction (F=4.13, p=.017). The most powerful predictor of mental health was test anxiety and it, combined with religion, accounted for 9.0% of variance in mental health in adolescents.
CONCLUSION
Test anxiety and mental health was found to be in a significant negative correlation with each other in adolescents. Therefore, nursing intervention programs for adolescents needs to reduce their test anxiety to improve their mental health.