Exam anxiety: Its prevalence and causative factors among Indian medical students

Journal Title: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology - Year 2017, Vol 7, Issue 12

Abstract

Background: Medical students confront stress throughout their course. It has been reported that 60% of students suffer from anxiety and depression during their study period. The leading cause for anxiety is an examination stress. A poor academic performance has been observed in students with high test anxiety than in those with low test anxiety. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of exam anxiety among medical students, to evaluate any significant difference in exam anxiety level between male and female students, and to assess the factors causing it. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 300 medical students of three phases in the age group of 18-23 years. The prevalence of exam anxiety was determined by westside test anxiety scale. The factors causing exam anxiety included in the survey questionnaire were related to examination system, lifestyle, study style, and psychological problems. Results: The prevalence of high exam anxiety among Phases I-III were 37%, 28%, and 32%, respectively. The high exam anxiety level was more in males than in females. Examination system, lack of time management and extensive course load was the major contributing factors for anxiety related to the examination. Conclusion: Medical teachers need to be aware of the factors causing exam anxiety, and the university needs to develop curriculum and examination pattern keeping in view the difficulties students face.

Authors and Affiliations

Satish G Patil, Manjunatha R Aithala

Keywords

Related Articles

Evaluation of perceived stress in bus drivers of Pune city

Background: Occupational stress has an aversive affect on individuals and organizations. Stress leads to physical and mental ill-health. Bus driving is a classic example of high-strain occupation. In a metropolitan city...

A study of waist circumference, hip-waist ratio as markers of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in male population of North Karnataka

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus belongs to a group of diseases labeled as “lifestyle diseases” and is on the rise in Asians, especially Indians. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people with diabetes will...

Comparison of efficacy and safety of metformin and vildagliptin versus metformin and glimepiride in patients of Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous chronic metabolic disorder principally characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin action and/or insulin secretion. In course of time, prol...

Impact of chemotherapy with concurrent radiotherapy on quality of life in post-operative advanced head-and-neck cancer patients: A cross-sectional study

Background: Patients with head-and-neck cancer (HNC) have various challenging symptoms due to their disease and treatment side effects which again complicate the disease progress as it has a direct implication toward the...

Evaluation of fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler indices in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction: A cross-sectional study

Background: Doppler velocimetry studies of placental and fetal circulation can provide important information regarding fetal well-being providing an opportunity to improve fetal outcome. Aims and Objective: The aim of th...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP292658
  • DOI 10.5455/njppp.2017.7.0516113072017
  • Views 121
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Satish G Patil, Manjunatha R Aithala (2017). Exam anxiety: Its prevalence and causative factors among Indian medical students. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7(12), 1323-1328. https://www.europub.co.uk/articles/-A-292658