Date of Award
4-10-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
School Name
Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education
Department
Education
Major Advisor
Dr. James Archibald
Second Advisor
Dr. Portia Resnick
Third Advisor
Dr. Gary Petiprin
Abstract
Test anxiety impacts traditional-aged undergraduate business students and influences their academic performance and overall well-being. This study explored the efficacy of massage therapy (MT) as a means of mitigating test anxiety within this demographic. Building on existing literature that addresses the consequences of anxiety and alternative coping mechanisms, this research study focused on MT as a potential strategy for test anxiety management. The study employed the Adult Manifest Anxiety Scale–College Version (AMAS-C) to gather data from participants at a private liberal arts institution in the East South-Central region of the United States. An experimental group received an MT intervention, while a control group engaged in a comparable relaxation activity during finals week. Statistical analyses, including paired-samples t-tests and two-way mixed ANOVA, were conducted to assess the effect of MT on overall and test anxiety, and to examine variations based on sex assigned at birth and academic classification. The results exposed a statistically significant reduction in overall anxiety following the MT intervention, with pre-intervention mean scores dropping from 58.79 to a post-intervention mean of 51.68 (T(37) = 4.103, p < .001). Similarly, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the test anxiety subscale of the AMAS-C, with scores reducing from a pre-intervention average of 59.29 to 55.24 post-intervention (T(37) = 2.623, p = .013). Additional analyses exploring the effect of MT on sex assigned at birth and academic classification revealed no significant differences in the effectiveness of MT, indicating its potential as a universally effective intervention. This research contributes to the understanding of test anxiety management and supports the potential of MT as a beneficial intervention for college students. The findings highlight the importance of developing personalized interventions to improving student success and retention rates in higher education.
Recommended Citation
Pazmiño, Jorge A., "The Effect of Massage Therapy on Test Anxiety Experienced by Traditional-aged Undergraduate Business Students" (2024). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones. 179.
https://scholarworks.bellarmine.edu/tdc/179
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