Effects of Exercise Intervention on Students’ Test Anxiety: A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of exercise intervention on students’ test anxiety with a meta-analysis to serve as a reference to further relevant research. CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and EBSCOhost databases were electronically searched from inception to August 2021 in order to identify randomized and non-randomized controlled trials on exercise for treating students’ test anxiety. Two researchers independently screened the study, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the studies. Meta-analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.4 software. Among the 4115 articles retrieved, 16 were qualitative analyses, 15 of which were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that exercise intervention effectively alleviated students’ test anxiety when compared with the blank control group. Subgroup analysis showed that a single exercise intervention lasting 10~15 min did not relieve students’ test anxiety. The different scales used in the study are the source of inter-study heterogeneity. In conclusion, twenty minutes of aerobic exercise at any intensity performed two to three times a week for at least four weeks can reduce test anxiety levels. However, this is the minimum level and students should not be limited to the minimum amount of exercise when reducing test anxiety. In addition, exercise combined with psychotherapy can reduce students’ test anxiety better than exercise intervention alone. Future studies should explore the minimum intervention period and whether the shorter intervention period can quickly and effectively reduce students’ test anxiety.

Psychobiotic Lactobacillus plantarum JYLP-326 relieves anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms in test anxious college via modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolism

“…The issue of how anxious students process these exam stress-induced health threats is of great interest. Although many coping strategies have been suggested to address anxiety for students, including supplying proper nutrition ( 5 ), doing more exercises ( 6 ), and taking medicines ( 7 ), most of students tend to neglect the necessary of dietary nutrition and physical exercise due to the urgency of the UNGEE preparation. And taking medications can lead to substance dependence and induce serious adverse effects according to the FDA and scholars’ reports ( 8 ).…”

Interventions for psychiatric disorders among university students: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

“…Of the 19 included systematic reviews, 26 % ( n = 5) ( Bolinski et al., 2020 ; Huber et al., 2022 ; Lin et al., 2022 ; Luo, Zhang, Liu, Ma & Jennings, 2022 ; Oliveira Silva et al., 2023 ) studies were rated as “high”, 26 % ( n = 5) ( Gong et al., 2023 ) ( Yang, Guo, Cheng & Zhang, 2022 ) ( Harrer et al., 2019 ; Huntley et al., 2019 ; Ma, Zhang & Cui, 2019 ) as “moderate”, 37 % ( n = 7) ( Chandler et al., 2022 ; Du et al., 2022 ) ( Chen et al., 2021 ; Lo et al., 2018 ; Luan et al., 2022 ) ( Huang, Nigatu, Smail-Crevier, Zhang & Wang, 2018 ; Song, Liu, Huang, Wu & Tao, 2021 ) as “low” and 11 % ( n = 2) ( Regehr, Glancy & Pitts, 2013 ; Zhang, Li & Wang, 2022 ) as “critically low” quality with the AMSTAR2 scoring system. Supplementary Table 1 presented the details of the quality of each included study evaluated using the AMSTAR2 tool.…”

“…A total of 15 meta-analyses assessed the effects of exercise interventions including Baduanjin, Taichi, Wuqinxi, traditional Chinese exercises, and aerobic exercise on mental illness, of which 7 ( Du et al., 2022 ; Lin et al., 2022 ; Song et al., 2021 ; Yang et al., 2022 ) meta-analyses related to depression, 7( Du et al., 2022 ; Lin et al., 2022 ; Luo et al., 2022 ; Song et al., 2021 ; Zhang et al., 2022 ) related to anxiety and 1( Lin et al., 2022 ) related to mood changes. 10 re-analyses were nominally statistically significant under random effects models ( P <0.05), however, only one 95 % prediction interval excluded the null value.…”

Emotional Intelligence, Physical Activity Practice and Mediterranean Diet Adherence-An Explanatory Model in Elementary Education School Students

“…These findings coincide with the assertion made by Portela-Pino et al [ 46 ], where they state that the decrease in weekly physical activity times encourages the appearance of disruptive states that affect the physical and psychological well-being of young people. Likewise, Zhang et al [ 47 ] affirm that during adolescence there is a reduction of weekly physical activity times, as adolescents give greater priority to other types of tasks with a more sedentary character. In contrast, a positive relationship is observed between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity.…”