1. Reducing STEM test anxiety through classroom mindfulness training for lower secondary school children: a pilot study
- Author
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Zamira Hyseni Duraku, Jon Konjufca, Linda Hoxha, Artë Blakaj, Blerinë Bytyqi, Erona Mjekiqi, and Shkurtë Bajgora
- Subjects
Mindfulness ,STEM ,test anxiety ,lower secondary school ,students ,sex ,Special aspects of education ,LC8-6691 ,The family. Marriage. Woman ,HQ1-2044 - Abstract
ABSTRACTAlthough 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.
- Published
- 2023
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