Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Mentor

Abby Garlock

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and test anxiety in undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students. Participants (N=69) were first, second, and third year undergraduate nursing students at a small, private university in the southeastern United States. The Westside Test Anxiety Scale was administered along with questions regarding the type of physical activity performed each week and the number of minutes of physical activity performed each week. A Pearson r correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics were analyzed. Results were inconclusive regarding the relationship between physical activity and test anxiety. Survey results indicated 97% of students have moderate to high levels of test anxiety. Based on the anxiety scale, fear of failure and the inability to recall information were predominant worries of prelicensure nursing students. No conclusions were drawn about which exercises may cause a lower test anxiety. Although the relationship between physical activity and test anxiety was not significant, it is meaningful and interventions need to be implemented to combat test anxiety.

Included in

Nursing Commons

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