Control, anxiety and test performance: Self‐reported and physiological indicators of anxiety as mediators

British Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 93, pp. 72–89

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the role of different test anxiety components (affective, cognitive, motivational and physiological) as mediators between control and performance as proposed by Pekrun's control-value theory (CVT). While all components were assessed via self-report, the physiological component was additionally assessed via electrodermal activity (EDA). AIMS: We examined the relative impact of the self-reported anxiety components and EDA in this mediating mechanism to identify the most relevant assessment(s) (i.e., self-reported anxiety components and/or EDA) for predicting test performance. SAMPLE: The study comprised 50 eighth graders. METHODS: Data were collected during a mathematics test comprising six task blocks. State self-reports of control and anxiety components along with test performance and other test emotions were collected block-wise (i.e., repeated assessments within students). EDA was continuously recorded. RESULTS: Consistent with CVT, intra-individual mediation analysis with multiple mediators revealed that higher control predicted lower anxiety (i.e., all self-reported components). Unexpectedly, higher control was associated with increased EDA. Follow-up analyses taking other test emotions into account suggested this might reflect positive activation. Correlations between EDA and control and self-reported anxiety components differed depending on which test emotion was dominant in each situation. Regarding test performance, only the cognitive component was a significant mediator and thus seems to play a pivotal role in the relationship between control and performance. CONCLUSIONS: Distinguishing between anxiety components and including unbiased physiological measures improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind the relationship between test anxiety and performance. Higher physiological arousal may be a sign of anxiety but can also be a sign of positive activation. When aiming to reduce negative effects of anxiety on performance, targeting the cognitive component seems crucial. Implications of these findings for educational and psychological practice are discussed.

Authors 7

1. Anna‐Lena Roos corresponding

   FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, FHNW Olten Switzerland

   University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, FHNW, Olten, Switzerland

2. Thomas Goetz

   University of Vienna

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Vienna Vienna Austria

   University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

3. Maike Krannich

   University of Zurich

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland

   University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

4. Monika H. Donker

   Utrecht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands

   Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

5. Maik Bieleke

   University of Konstanz

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany

   University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

6. Anna Caltabiano

   Imperial College London

   Affiliation as printed

   Imperial College London London UK

   Imperial College London, London, UK

7. Tim Mainhard Aachen Education and Child Studies

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands