The role of ineffective attitudes and academic self-concept in predicting students' test anxiety

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of ineffective attitudes and self-concept in predicting students' test anxiety. The research method was correlational. The population consisted of all students studying in Lahijan pre-university period in the academic year of 1396-1395. A sample of 150 participants (75 females and 75 males) were selected through multi-stage sampling. Using inferential attitudes questionnaire, self-concept questionnaire and test anxiety questionnaire, the data were collected. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed a significant positive correlation between test anxiety with social confirmation (p<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation  between perfectionism and total ineffective attitude, and between test anxiety and self-concept (p<0.01). The results also showed that social confirmation and perfectionism and academic self-concept  predicted test anxiety (p< 0.01). Exams lead to moderate to severe anxiety in most students. Considering the high percentage of test anxiety among students, the necessity of effective management of test anxiety in students is quite tangible.