Strides in Development of Medical Education

Exam Anxiety among Dental Students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran in 2013

Document Type : Brief report

Authors

Molouk Torabi 1
Jahangir Haghani 2
Marzieh Karimi Afshar 3
Payman Mohseni 4

1 PhD in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 PhD in Radiology, Associate Professor, Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Resident of Orthodontics, Depratment of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 Dentist, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract
Background & Objective: Exam anxiety is a significant problem among university students and can be accompanied by a decline in performance and severe psychological problems This study was designed to investigate exam anxiety levels among dental students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Iran in 2013 Methods: This descriptive crosssectional study was conducted on dental students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences The participants were selected using census method The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of the 20item standard Exam Anxiety Questionnaire (Spielberger) demographic characteristics causes of anxiety methods of decreasing exam anxiety and exam method Data were analyzed using SPSS software and linear regression and Student s ttest Results: Of the participants 5657% were men their mean age was 227 ± 218 and 3771% lived with their parents The mean score of the exam anxiety questionnaire was 4729 ± 1057 the maximum score being 80 The first activity during leisure time was exercising (30%) and fear of failure was the first cause of exam anxiety Theoretical final exams were the cause of the exam anxiety in 5490% of participants Seeing friends was the most common method of decreasing anxiety There was no significant correlation between mean exam anxiety score and sex age academic year marriage status and academic performance A significant correlation was observed between area of residence and mean exam anxiety score Conclusion: Based on our findings dental students had varying degrees of exam anxiety Thus we recommend the training of exam anxiety reduction methods during the course of the term by professionals

Keywords

Exam anxiety
Dental students
Kerman (Iran)
  1. Regier DA, Rae DS, Narrow WE, Kaelber CT, Schatzberg AF. Prevalence of anxiety disorders and their comorbidity with mood and addictive disorders. Br J Psychiatry Suppl 1998; (34):24-8.
  2. Rada R. Stress, burnout, anxiety and depression among dentists. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004; 135(6):788-94.
  3. Diefenbach GJ1, McCarthy-Larzelere ME, Williamson DA, Mathews A, Manguno-Mire GM, Bentz BG. Anxiety, depression, and the context of worries. Depress Anxiety. 2001; 14(4):247-50.
  4. Neuderth S1, Jabs B, Schmidtke A. Strategies for reducing test anxiety and optimizing exam preparation in German university students: a prevention-oriented pilot project of the University of Würzburg. J Neural Transm 2009; 116(6):785-90.
  5. Brown LA, Forman EM, Herbert JD, Hoffman KL, Yuen EK, Goetter EM. A randomized controlled trial of acceptance –based behavior therapy and cognitive therapy for test anxiety: a pilot study. Behav Modif 2011; 35(1):31-53.
  6. Zhang Z, Su H, Peng Q, Yang Q, Cheng X. Exam anxiety induces significant blood pressure and heart rate increase in college students. Clin Exp Hypertens 2011; 33(5):2816.
  7. Marazziti D1, Ambrogi F, Abelli M, Di Nasso E, Catena M, Massimetti G, et al. Lymphocyte subsets, cardiovascular measures and anxiety state before and after a professional examination. Stress 2007; 10(1):93-9.
  8. Maimanee TA. The impact of exam anxiety on the level of triglycerides in university female students. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 2010; 40(1):259-70.
  9. Hashmat S, Hashmat M, Amanullah F, Aziz S. Factors causing exam anxiety in medical students. J Pak Med Assoc 2008; 58(4):16770.
  10. Afzal H, Afzal S, Siddique SA, Naqvi SA. Measures used by medical students to reduce test anxiety. J Pak Med Assoc. 2012; 62(9):982-6.
  11. Alzahem AM, van der Molen HT, Alaujan AH, Schmidt HG, Zamakhshary MH. Stress among dental students: A systematic review. Eur J Dent Educ 2011; 15(1):8-18
  12. Latas M, Pantić M, Obradović D. Analysis of test anxiety in medical students. Med Pregl 2010; 63(11-12):863-6.
  13. Mc Donald AS. The prevalence and effects of test anxiety in school children. Educ Psychol 2001; 21(1):89-101
  14. Costarelli V, Patsai A. Academic examination stress increases disordered eating symptomatology in female university students. Eat Weight Disord 2012; 17(3):e164-9.
  15. Rezazadeh M, Tavakoli M. Investigating the relationship among test anxiety, gender, academic achievement and years of study: A case of Iranian EFL university students. English Language Teaching 2009; 2(4)1-7.
  16. Mousavi M, Haghshenas H, Alishahi MJ. Effect of gender, school performance and school type on test anxiety among Iranian adolescents. Iran Red Crescent Med J 2008; 10(1):4-7.
  17. Mehrabizadeh Honarmand M, Kazemian Moghadam K. Efficacy of regular desensitization on exam anxiety and academic performance. J Applied Psychol 2007; 2(5):2334. [In Persian]
  18. Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. Anxiety disorders. In: Synopsis of Psychiatry.9nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippinctt William & Wilkins Co.; 2003:609.
  19. Mwamwenda TS. Gender differences in test anxiety among South African University students. Percept 76(2):554. Motor Skills 1993;
  20. Başpınar Can P, Dereboy C, Eskin M. Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Restructuring and Systematic Desensitization in Reducing High-Stakes Test Anxiety. Turk Psikiyatri Derg 2012; 23(1):9-17.
  21. Lashkari pour K, Bakhshani N, Solamani MJ. The relationship between test anxiety and academic achievement in students of guidance schools in Zahedan in 2006. Zahedan J Res Med Sci 2006:8(4):253-9. [In Persian]
  22. Mehregan F, Najjarian B, Ahmadi A. The relation between test anxiety and performance among Ahvaz university students. Ferdowsi J Psychol 2001; 2:7-24. [In Persian]
  23. Mwamwenda TS. Test Anxiety and academic achievement among South African University students. Psychol Rep. 1994; 75(3 Pt 2):15934.
  24. Zimer JW, Hocevar DJ. Effects of massed versus distributed practice of test taking on achievement and test anxiety. Psychol Rep 1994; 74(3):915-9.
  25. Pradeep ST, Mathur A, Gupta R, Chaudhary S. Assessment of Stress Level among Dental School Students: An Indian Outlook. Dent Res J (Isfahan) 2011; 8(2): 95–101.
  26. Polychronopoulou A, Divaris K. A longitudinal study of Greek dental students' perceived sources of stress. Am Dental Educ Assoc 2010; 74(5):524-30.
  27. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Belury MA, Andridge R, William B, Malarkey WB, Glaser R. Omega-3 Supplementation Lowers Inflammation and Anxiety in Medical Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Brain Behav Immun 2011; 25(8): 1725–34.
Strides in Development of Medical Education
Volume 11, Issue 4
2015
Pages 534-541

Home

Editorial Policy

Submit Manuscript

Guide for Authors

Peer Review Process

Guide for Reviewers

Publication Ethics Policy

Forms

Suggestion and Complain

FAQ

Contact Us