Author(s): KE, H., DOU, W., LUO, D., CHEN, X., SHI, Y., Institution: BEIJING SPORT UNIVERSITY , Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 442

INTRODUCTION:
Test anxiety is leading to failure or a low academic performance in university students. The sustained low academic performance increases academic pressure and remains considerable physiological and psychological impacts. Consequently, test anxiety is becoming one of the major mental problems among university students. Understanding the relationship between different lifestyle factors and test anxiety is critical to develop intervention strategies and promote students’ motivation and academic performance. Therefore, we explored the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time, sedentary time, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleeping time and test anxiety.
METHODS:
138 undergraduate students (mean age = 19.3y, 60.8% females, 39.2% males) participated in this study and completed questionnaires on the week before the formal examination. MVPA, sedentary time and sleeping time were measured via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Test anxiety was evaluated by Sarason’s test anxiety Scale (TAS). Fruit and vegetables consumption was accessed by Food Frequency Questionnaire (FAQ). Multiple linear regressions were performed to evaluate the associations between MVPA time, sedentary time, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleeping time and test anxiety.
RESULTS:
According to the scores of TAS, 84.7% of participants were found to experience moderate to severe test anxiety. A linear regression revealed a negative relationship between physical activity levels and test anxiety levels (r=-0.30, p=0.0003). Similarly, a negative relationship was also detected between vegetables and fruit intake (r=-0.18, p=0.04), sleeping hours (r=-0.20, p=0.02) and test anxiety levels. However, no relationship was observed between sedentary time and test anxiety (r=-0.04, p=0.58).
CONCLUSION:
Our results revealed a serious test anxiety problem in university students and negative relationship between test anxiety and physical activity, sleep, fruit and vegetables consumption but no sedentary time. These findings suggest that that sedentary behavior may not contribute to test anxiety. However, healthy lifestyles (enough MVPA, fruit and vegetable consumption and sleeping time) contribute to alleviate test anxiety. Accordingly, our work provides valuable advice for universities to help students overcoming test anxiety.