Physiological Arousal Moderates the Effect of Mindfulness on Test Performance

Dylan Nirenberg

Anxiety

Among college students, anxiety has become a growning problem.
According to Bamber & Morpeth (2019), anxiety is the foremost diagnosed and treated mental health condition, and has many negative consequences including course failure for college students.

Mindfulness Meditation

Construct definition
- Mindfulness meditation is a mental health practice that teaches the participant to slow down their racing thoughts, negativity and calm their mind and mody.
Operational definition
- In this study we had the particpnats watch and participate in a one minute guided meditation. We then had the participants take a simple math test.

Physiological Arousal

Construct definition
- A state of heightened activity in the autonomic nervous system. High arousal would induce a fight or flight response.
Operational definition
- This variable was manipulated by having the partcipants watch and participate in a one minute exercise video before taking a simple math test.

Test Performance

Construct definition
- How the participant scores on the given test.
Operational definition
- This was measured by giving the participants a simple math test after completing the given condition.

Hypotheses

		Main IV
		MM before test	No MM before test
Moderator IV	No Jumping Jacks	High TP	Low TP
	Jumping Jacks 1 min	Low TP	Low TP

Picture of Figure of actual results

My Figure

Discussion

One limitation this study faced was its statistical validity. In particular the sample size.
One strenght of this study was its construct validity. The way the experiment was put together.
This study can impact the real world by giving insight on how meditation can work for college students to reduce test anxiety.

Physiological Arousal does moderate Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is effective but its effects can be nullified by physiological arousal.