Skip to main content
Log in

Cognitive therapy for test anxiety

  • Published:
Cognitive Therapy and Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A cognitive therapy was administered in a group format to test-anxious college students. Subjects were randomly assigned to groups meeting for eight weekly sessions, groups meeting for four weekly sessions, or a waiting list control group. The overall pattern of results suggested that the eight-session condition was superior to the four-session condition, which was superior to the control condition in reducing self-reported test anxiety. On the other hand, neither a task performance measure nor grade point average showed any effect of treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beck, A. T.Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruch, M. A Type of cognitive modeling, imitation of modeled tactics, and modification of test anxiety.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1978,2 147–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambliss, C. A., & Murray, E. J. Efficacy attribution, locus of control, and weight loss.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1979,3 349–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finger, R., & Galassi, J. P. Effects of modifying cognitive versus emotionality responses in the treatment of anxiety.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1977,45 280–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldfried, M. R. Cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety (Tape). In D. Meichenbaum (Ed.),Cognitive behavior therapy. New York: BMA Audio Cassettes, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldfried, M. R., Linehan, M. M., & Smith, J. L. Reduction of test anxiety through cognitive restructuring.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1978,46 32–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, B. L., Domitor, P. J., & Murray, E. J. Effects of Zen meditation on anxiety reduction and perceptual functioning.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1979,47 551–556.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holroyd, K. Cognition and desensitization in the group treatment of test anxiety.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1976,44 991–1001.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCordick, S. M., Kaplan, R. M., Finn, M. E., & Smith, S. H. Cognitive behavior modification and modeling for test anxiety.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1979,47 419–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meichenbaum, D. H. Cognitive modification of test anxious college students.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1972,39 370–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parloff, M. B., Waskow, I. E., & Wolfe, B. E. Research on therapist variables in relation to process and outcome. In S. L. Garfield & A. E. Bergin (Eds.),Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D., Gonzalez, H. P., Taylor, C. J., Algaze, B., & Anton, W. D. Examination stress and test anxiety. In C. D. Spielberger & I. G. Sarason (Eds.),Stress and anxiety (Vol. 5). New York: Hemisphere-Wiley, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wesman Personnel Classification Test. New York: Psychological Corporation, 1967.

  • Wine, J. Test anxiety and direction of attention.Psychological Bulletin 1971,76 92–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. D.The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This article is based on a master's thesis by the senior author supervised by the junior author.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

D'Alelio, W.A., Murray, E.J. Cognitive therapy for test anxiety. Cogn Ther Res 5, 299–307 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01193413

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01193413

Keywords

Navigation