Support from Online Friends Can Help to Ease Test Anxiety

Taking classes can be stressful for many, and testing can easily be the most distressing aspect. It's believed that 25-40% of US students suffer from test anxiety today, which is a 10% increase from what previous research indicated. This can drastically hinder an individual's ability to perform on the assessments that matter most in escalating their academic career, and in college, can make the difference between thousands of dollars in retaking classes. So, what is test anxiety, and how can we use social media to combat this?

Test anxiety is a psychological condition characterized by a combination of physical symptoms and emotional reactions that interfere with one's ability to perform well on tests. There are various reasons an individual may experience test anxiety, including an excessive course load, maladaptive perfectionism, a negative family environment, and most notably, low self-esteem and self-efficacy.

Recent studies have indicated that there may be a simpler solution to this problem than the tried and true method of more preparation. This is useful because, unfortunately, when numerous classes' tests are placed on the same week, more preparation time isn't always an option. Luckily, dad has shown that the seeking support from online friends when facing test anxiety can have many positive benefits.

A study conducted by the University of Illinois in 2017 concluded that undergraduates experiencing high levels of test anxiety that reached out to friends online for social support in the forms of status updates, messaging, comments, and likes were able to effectively reduce their anxiety levels by 21% and improve their scores as well. This was most apparent in participants testing in areas of programming and computer science, but could be seen across all majors.

To test this, they had participating students post messages on their personal accounts requesting words of encouragement from their network. These students then spent 7 minutes before their exam reviewing the responses they received, rather than cramming for the test-which is how the control group spent their last 7 minutes and not unusual among students. The results indicated a positive correlation between the number of responses the students received and their exam scores, with a negative correlation to the amount of anxiety they felt.

The explanation for this could lie in the psychology behind this phenomenon. As it's based in low self-esteem, social support has been proven to increase self-esteem, and therefore decrease test anxiety. One explanation for this might be that when we feel others believe in us, it's easier to believe in ourselves. One may convey this belief effectively through social media in the form of a comment or even a like.

Although there was significant data to support the effectiveness of this method, surveys of those that participated overwhelming expressed distaste for it despite its success, claiming they felt uncomfortable and attention seeking in soliciting messages for good luck regarding their academics. This test was then replicated, similarly, but including a solution to this problem.

Participants in this second round of testing, rather than posting online asking for support, supported themselves by journaling for the 7 minutes before their exam. It was hypothesized that this could be as successful, as journaling is recognized as an effective method in reducing anxiety on its own.

This second test's results further validated the conclusion of the first study, as the numbers, although better than that of the control group that spent their last minutes cramming, were still significantly lower than those of the testing group, whose self-esteem was boosted by their peers in the form of motivational messages in oppose to the ruminating that was done in the journals of those in the second group.

Another area that this research could be further studied is in its career advancement application. Based off this study and its data, it's reasonable to believe that these results could be replicated in another area that produces anxiety for many and is also rooted in low self-esteem and self-efficacy: interviewing.

So, next time you’re nervous about a test or an interview-don't be embarrassed! Post a status update. Let your social network know that you're in need of some extra support, and allow their kind words to carry you through to the goal you're aspiring to. The results may please you.