Journal of Islamic Educational Thought and Development
Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026): Geographical distribution of authors: Indonesia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Kazakhstan,

The Use of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Reducing Test Anxiety Among Students in Nigerian Higher Education

Kadiri Hasan (Department of Educational Psychology, Kwara State College of Education, Nigeria)
Yunus Sulyman Ayinla (Department of Educational Psychology, Kwara State College of Education, Nigeria)
Sulaiman Sabirah (School of Economics, Finance and Banking, Universiti Utara, Malaysia)
Yusuf Bola Tawakalitu (Department of Social Justice and Security Studies, Kwara State University, Nigeria)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Apr 2026

Abstract

Test anxiety remains a significant psychological challenge among students in tertiary institutions, often interfering with academic performance, concentration, and emotional well-being. This study examined the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention in reducing test anxiety among undergraduate students. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was employed. Eighty students with moderate to high levels of test anxiety were selected through screening and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40). The experimental group participated in an eight-week mindfulness-based intervention adapted from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) model, while the control group continued with regular academic activities. Data were collected using the Test Anxiety Inventory and analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired samples t-tests, independent samples t-tests, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in test anxiety among students who participated in the mindfulness program compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). The intervention demonstrated a large effect size, indicating substantial practical impact. The results suggest that mindfulness-based interventions can effectively enhance emotional regulation and reduce anxiety in evaluative academic settings. The study concludes that integrating structured mindfulness programs into tertiary education may serve as a valuable preventive and supportive strategy for addressing test anxiety and promoting student well-being.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jietd

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Education

Description

Journal of Islamic Educational Thought and Development focuses on the advancement of Islamic educational thought, theory, philosophy, and innovation that respond critically to contemporary social, cultural, technological, and global challenges. The journal positions Islamic education not merely as a ...