A quantitative study of test anxiety and its influencing factors among medical and dental students

Abstract

Objective The study was conducted to assess test anxiety and its influencing factors on medical and dental students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among students from three private and public medical and dental colleges in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The survey included statements about the demographic profile of the study participants and used the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) by Spielberger. Results The study included 680 students with a mean age of 20.93 ± 1.76 years. About half the sample (51.8%) scored high on test anxiety (TAI score > 45), and the mean TAI score was slightly higher for the dental (47.75 ± 11.45) than medical students (46.42 ± 12.79). Female students had a significantly higher mean TAI score (48.45 ± 12.79) than male students (41.85 ± 8.91; p < 0.001). The students from private colleges had a significantly greater test anxiety score (50.15 ± 13.23) than students from public colleges (42.88 ± 9.7; p < 0.001). Students whose parents were graduates from a college or university perceived significantly increased test anxiety than those of parents with no/school education ( p < 0.001). A female gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.10, 95% CI:1.37, 3.22), being a private college student (AOR 2.88, 95% CI:1.90, 4.38), and having a mother with a college or university education (AOR 2.05, 95% CI: 1.25, 3.35) were significantly associated with high on test anxiety. Conclusion In our study cohort, test anxiety was common among medical and dental students. A female gender, being a student from a private college, and having a mother with a high education were significantly associated with high test anxiety. The study findings may guide the development of programs that can reduce students’ test anxiety and potentially improve their education.

Examination Anxiety in Integrated Modular Curriculum: Perceptions of Dental Students

“…We have replicated the study by Guraya et al (2018), with the difference that our participants are dental students. Research conducted on students of medical and dental colleges reported that test anxiety scores were slightly higher in dental students than in medical students, this also supports our study conducted specifically on dental students (Nazir et al, 2021).…”

“…Spielberger and Vagg have defined test anxiety as a part of general anxiety that hinders the performance of students in their academic activities and examinations. It is also defined as "an emotional state that has psychological and behavioral concomitants, and that is experienced in formal testing or other evaluative situations" (Nazir et al, 2021;Spielberger & Vagg, 1995).…”

Exam-Related Anxiety Levels among Iraqi Medical Students in Baghdad City

“…At the same time, our findings were nearly equal to India's prevalence of high exam-related anxiety, which was around 37% [28]. Test-related anxiety is much higher in women than in males, according to studies conducted at Dow Medical College in Addis Ababa [29], as well as in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and India [30][31][32]. The majority of students were not aware of anxiety-reduction techniques, and those who were not using them [17].…”

Exam Anxiety and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Indian Medical Undergraduates

“…Scores can range from 10 to 40. Self-esteem level is categorized as low (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25), medium level (26-29) and high level (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40).…”