The protective role of self-compassion on test anxiety among adolescents
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A growing body of work has begun to identify the benefits of self-compassion in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for adolescents. Test anxiety is a form of anxiety elicited in response to examinations, which can negatively impact academic achievement and wellbeing. The current pilot study explored the effect of self-compassion on test anxiety among adolescents, while controlling for the effects of gender and general anxiety. Participants were adolescents (n = 47), aged 16 to 17 years old, enrolled in a post-primary school in Northern Ireland and studying for qualifications after compulsory education. Hierarchical regression analysis found that higher levels of self-compassion were related to reduced test anxiety. However, female adolescents and those with higher levels of general anxiety reported greater test anxiety. The findings highlight the potential value of self-compassion as a protective factor against test anxiety for young people in schools. The implications for practitioners supporting young people with mental health and wellbeing difficulties are considered.
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There is empirical evidence of the protective role of self-compassion in test anxiety.
“and of the protective role of self-compassion in test anxiety (O'Driscoll & McAleese, 2022).”
From THE EFFICACY OF A COMPASSION, ACCEPTANCE AND MINDFULNESS-BASED PILOT INTERVENTION FOR ADOLESCENTS’ TEST ANXIETY: A CASE STUDY USING THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM (2023) · cites this paper as O'Driscoll & McAleese, 2022
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- Authors
- O’Driscoll, D., & McAleese, M.
- Affiliations
- Queen's University Belfast (GB)
- Corresponding author
- O’Driscoll, Dean
- Venue
- Pastoral Care in Education
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-03-15
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 211-224
- ISSN
- 0264-3944 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-0122
- OpenAlex
- W4221068586
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 3.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Pastoral Care in Education (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Northern Ireland Department of Education Educational Psychology training award
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Keywords
- self-compassion, test anxiety, adolescents, general anxiety, gender differences, academic anxiety, protective factors, student well-being, academic performance
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