The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral intervention on Reducing Anxiety Symptoms and Improving the Quality of Life of First Period High School Male Students with Test Anxiety

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Test anxiety is a type of situational anxiety (certain phobia) that has a certain state of general anxiety including phenomenological, physiological, and behavioral responses to fear of failure and negatively affects one's quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on reducing anxiety symptoms and improving the quality of life of students with test anxiety.
research methodology: The present study was an experimental study (with pre-test, post-test, and a 3-month post hoc study) in which repeated measures analysis of variance with control group were used. From among the first period high school male students of CHENAR SHAHIJAN in Fars province, 50 individuals with test anxiety disorder were selected and assigned into experimental and control groups. Data were collected using Friedman & Jacob Test Anxiety Inventory (1997) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument- Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF). The treatment protocol comprised using Wilder Mouth Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques in 9 sessions of one and a half hour weekly. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test using SPSS 22.
Findings: Cognitive behavioral therapy causes significant changes (p <0.0001) in the posttest test and post hoc of both variables. It decreases the students' test anxiety symptoms and improving their quality of life.
Conclusion: It seemed that the psychological intervention in the post-test and post hoc reduced students' test anxiety scores in three dimensions of social humiliation, cognitive error and stress, and improved their quality of life. thus this method can be part of the treatment of anxiety in the future and can be effective in improving the quality of life of individuals with test anxiety.

Keywords


Asayesh, H. Hosseini, M, A, SHarififard, F, &Taheri KHarameh, Z.  (2016). The relationship between self- efficacy and test anxiety among the paramedical students of Qom university of medical sciences. Journal of Advances in Medical Education, 1(3):28-42.                                 
Baezzat, F, &Eizadifard, R. (2012). Test anxiety.1st ed. Theran: Neyak publication. [in Persian]                                                                                                                                      
Bahramian,M, Mehralizadeh,Y.& Sepasi.H.(2010). The impact of descriptive evaluation on school achievement and test anxiety. Journal of Education SHAHID CHAMRAN University of Ahwaz ,17(2):127-148.                                                                                                                 
 Baradaran,M.(2017). Comparison of treatment and character dimensions and cognitive emotion regulation in anxious and normal students. Journal of Social Cognition,6(1):62-72.
 Barge-Schaapveld,A,C,M.&Berkof,N.(2000).Quality of life in depression: Daily like Determinants and Variability.88(3):173-189.                                                                            
Beck, A. T. & Emery, G. (1985). Anxiety disorders and phobia: A cognitive perspective. New York: Basic Books.                                                                                                             
Carr, M, & Jessup.D.(1997). Gender differences in first grade mathematics strategy use. Social and Metacognitive Influences Journal of Educational Psychology,89(2):318-328.        
Chipuer, H. M. (2002). Determinants of subjective quality of life among rural adolescents: a development perspective, social indicators research,61;79-95.                                                       
Eizadifard, R.& Sepasiashtiani, M. (2010). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy with problem solving skills training on reduction of test anxiety symptoms. Journal of Behavioral Sciences,4(1):23-27.                                                                                                                     
Emami, Z.&Kajbaf, M. B. (2015). The effectiveness of quality of life therapy on anxiety and depression in female high school student. Journal of cognitive Behavioral science researches,4(2):90-98.                                                                                                                  
Ergene,T.(2003). Effectiveness interventions on test anxiety reduction a meta-analysis. School Psychology International,24(3):313-328.                                                                         
FathiAhmadsaraei, N, NeshatDoost, H. T, Manshaee, GH. R, &Nadi, M. A. (2016). The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on quality of life among patients with type 2 diabets. Iranian Journal Health Educ Health Promot,4(1):67-82.                                           
Flugel Colle, K, F, Cha, S, S, Loehrer, L, & Bauer. B, A. (2010). Measurment of quality of life and participant experience with the mindfulness based stress reduction program. Complementary therapies in clinical practice,36-40.
Friedman, I, &Bendas-Jacob, O. (1997). Measuring perceived test anxiety in adolescents: A self-report scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement,57,1035-1046.                         
Frisch, MI, B. (2006). Quality of life therapy: Applying a life satisfaction approach to positive psychology and cognitive therapy. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons press.                 
Garshasbi, A, FathiVajargah, K, &Arefi, M. (2019). The effect of cooperative learning and self evaluation on self motivation of students with the approach of jig saw. Journal of new approach in management system,10(1),45-68.                                                                              
Ghaffary, GH, R. Karimi, A, R.&Nowzari.H.(2012). The trend of quality of life study in Iran. Journal of social studies and researches, 1(3) :107-134.                                                   
GHasemzad, A, R, Berenjiyan, H, Abedi, M, R, &Barzideh, O. (2010). The relationship among fars shahed and Esargar high school students' quality of life, self esteem locus of control, stress and social capital. Journal of new approach in management system,1(4),107-124.          
 GHajareih, M, Alipour, S, SHehni Yailagh, M, & Davoodi, I. (2018). The effects of the FRIENDS for youth program on anxiety of Ahwaz female students. Journal of Psychological Methods and Models,9(31):68-84.                                                                                                
Georginia, S. T. (2015). The measurement and treatment of test anxiety, APA Psyc Net.
Gregor, A. (2005). Examination anxiety: Live with it, control it or make it work for you? School Psychology International,26(5):617-634.                                                                        
Hauken, M, Senneseth, M.&Dyregrov, A. (2017). Anxiety and the quality of life of children living with parental cancer. http://WWW.research gate.net/publication/312319864.                 
Heiser, P, Simidian, G, Albert, D, Garruto, J, Catucci, D, Faustino, P, Mc Carten, K, Caci, K, & Cooper.T.(2015). Anxious for success: High anxiety in New York's schools. New York State School Boards Association.                                                                                                 
Hill,KT.(1984). Debilitation motivation and testing. New York : Academic Press 24.
Hoseini,N,Hadianfard,H,Taghavi,S.MR,&Aflakseir,A.(2014).Anxiety and cognitive performance: The effect of induced anxiety conditions in inhibition function of working memory. Journal of Psychological Methods and Models,5(17):31-59.                                       
Javaheri,R,Neshat-Doost,HT,Molavi,H,&Zare.M.(2010). Efficacy on cognitive-behavioral stress management therapy on improving the quality of life in females with temporal lobe epilepsy. Arak Medical University Journal ,13(2):32-43.                                                           
Karami,F,Sarvghad,S,& Baghouli,H.(2015).The relationship of secondary grade students' personality and identity styles with their life satisfaction. Journal of new approach in management system,6(4),115-128.                                                          
Kaur,G,D.& Kumaran, S.J.(2016). Test anxiety and academic self- concept of students. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, http://doi.org.www.ijip.in                                     
Kose,S,Kurucu Yilmaz,S.& Gokts,S.(2018). The relationship between exam anxiety levels and sleep quality of senior high school students. J psychiatric Nurs,9(2):105-111.  
 KHayam Nekouei,Z,Yousefy,A,R,& Manshaee,GH.R.(2016). Cognitive behavioral therapy and quality of life: An experience among cardiac patients.http://www.Jehp.net           
Lambert.M.&Naber.D.(2004). current issues in schizophrenia: overview of patient acceptability functioning capacity and quality of life. CNS Drugs,18(2):5-17.                          
Mahmoodi, F, Pourtaleb, N, & Sadeghi, F. (2018). Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of different treatment methods on students' test anxiety in Iran. Journal of Psychological Methods and Models,9(31):47-68.                                                                                                               
Mared pour A. Najafi M.& Rafaatmah M. (2012). The comparison of the effectiveness of systematic desensitization study skills and combination method in decreasing test anxiety. Journal of clinical psychology,4(1):55-64.                                                                                  
MC Donald A. (2001). The prevalence and effects of test anxiety in school children.  Educational psychology,21(1):89-101.                                                                                        
Nateghi, F, Seifi, M, &Fijani, N. (2012). The effectiveness of descriptive evaluation plan on the academic achievement and mental health of male 4th grade students of primary school. Journal of new approach in management system,3(4),129-146.                                                   
Nejat, S, N. (2008). Quality of life and it's measuring. Journal of Special Epidemiology of Iran, 4(2):57-62.                                                                                                                          
Noberg, M, M, Diefenbach, G, T, & Tolin, D, F. (2007). Quality of life and anxiety and depressive disorder comorbidityJournal of eduational psychology,5(10):2425-2432.                
Noei Iran, L.& Mahmoud Alilou.M.(2015). Predicting quality of life and happiness based on attachment style.  Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation Research in Nursing,1(4):60-69.        
Padash, Z, Fatehizadeh, M, Abedi, M, & Izadikhah.Z.(2013). The effect of quality of life therapy on marital satisfaction. J Res Behav Sci,10(5):363-372.                                              
Ringeisen,T,& Raufelder,D.(2015). The interplay of parental support parental pressure and test with gender differences in adolescents. Journal of Adolescence,45,69-76.
Salimi, J, & Mohammadi, R. (2013). Evaluation of the effect of problem solving skills on male students' test anxiety. Research in Educational Systems,7(21):71-84.                           
 Sanche-Meca, J, &Marin-Martinez, F. (2010). Meta-analysis in psychological research. Inter-national Journal of Psychological Research,3(1):150-162.                                          
Sattary-Najaf-Abadi, R, &Heidary, H. (2015). The effectiveness of meta cognitive treatment on test anxiety in students. Journal of Behavioral Sciences,9(1):27-32.                                  
Sheydaei Aghdam,SH. & Fatemipour.HR.(2017). The effect of mindfulness training on reducing students' test anxiety. Journal of Thought & Behavior in clinical psychology,11(45):67-76.                                                                                                               
SHokrollahi,A,& Taheri,A.(2015). The relationship of employees' quality of work life and organizational citizenship behavior with their enterpreneurship. Journal of new approach in management system,6(5),129-152.                                                                                               
Soysa, C, K, & Weiss, A. (2014). Mediating perceived parenting styles test anxiety relationships: Academic procrastination and maladaptive perfectionism. Learning and Individual Differences,34,77-85.
 Tabebordbar, F. (2014). Meta- analysis of effectiveness of CBT treatment on addiction and general health of addicted. Journal of Psychological Methods and Models,4(14):1-12.          
Telch.M.J. Schmidt. N.B. Jaimez, T, L, Jacquin, K, M, Harrington, P, J. (1995). Impact of cognitive behavioral treatment on quality of life in panic disorder patients, J consult clin psycholo,63:823-30.
Zaree, A, SHahni Karamzadeh, M, & SHahni Yelagh. M. (2013). The effect of cognitive and meta cognitive training strategies in test anxiety reducing and improvement of students' performance in Ahwaz. Journal of Education,6(1):67-82.                                                          
Zarei, M, GH, Sohrabi, N, & Samani, S. (2016). The effectiveness of triangle successful design to promote students' academic performance. Journal of new approach in management system, 7(4),27-48.                                                                                                                       
Zargarzadeh, M, & SHirazi, M. (2014). The effect of progressive muscle relaxation method on test anxiety in nursing students. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research19,607-612.