A Review of the Impact of Self-Efficacy and Psychological Resilience on Test Anxiety in Middle School Students
Research Article
Open Access
CC BY

A Review of the Impact of Self-Efficacy and Psychological Resilience on Test Anxiety in Middle School Students

Wanqiang Xu 1*
1 Nanchang Normal College of Applied Technology
*Corresponding author: xwq1589596509@outlook.com
Published on 27 August 2025
Volume Cover
LNEP Vol.115
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-329-1
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-330-7
Download Cover

Abstract

Test anxiety is a common problem among middle school students in the fiercely competitive academic atmosphere created by important exams like the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) and the Middle School Entrance Examination (Zhongkao). Test anxiety, as a common negative emotion, significantly affects students' mental health and academic performance in examinations. It is a widespread and profoundly impactful psychological issue. This paper reviews the research literature on the relationship between self-efficacy, psychological resilience, and test anxiety in middle school students. The results indicate that in middle school students, Self-efficacy (SE) is negatively correlated with TA, and Psychological Resilience (PR) is also negatively correlated with Test Anxiety (TA), suggesting they have a mitigating and predictive role in students' TA. Furthermore, there has been limited recent research on the impact of SE and PR on TA among university students, with most studies focusing on the middle school level. Therefore, investigating this impact on university students may become a future research trend.

Keywords:

Self-efficacy, Psychological Resilience, Test Anxiety, Middle School Students

View PDF
Xu,W. (2025). A Review of the Impact of Self-Efficacy and Psychological Resilience on Test Anxiety in Middle School Students. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,115,24-30.

References

[1]. Wan, S., Lin, S., Li, S., Tu, S., & Qin, G.: The relationship between perfectionism and test anxiety of junior high school students: The mediating role of self-efficacy and trait anxiety. Educational Studies 50(6), 1184–1199 (2022)

[2]. Lu, X. R., Wang, Y. J., Zhu, H. Q., Xia, W., Xu, S. S., Ding, N., & Yong, L. H.: A study on the influencing factors of test anxiety among middle school students in Harbin City. Chinese School Health (8), 645–646 (2005)

[3]. Shi, O., & He, M. K.: The goal pursuit and action framework of the senior high school entrance examination reform under the background of "double reduction". Modern Education Management (11), 1–9 (2022)

[4]. Wei, H. F.: Does high school need "double reduction"? — On the reasons, obstacles and breakthroughs of "double reduction" in high school under the background of the new college entrance examination reform. China Education Policy Review (02), 271–287 (2022)

[5]. Bandura, A.: Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Advances in Behaviour Research & Therapy 1(4), 139–161 (1977)

[6]. Maier, A., Schaitz, C., Kröner, J., Berger, A., Keller, F., Beschoner, P., Connemann, B., & Sosic-Vasic, Z.: The association between test anxiety, self-efficacy, and mental images among university students: Results from an online survey. Frontiers in Psychiatry 12, 618108 (2021)

[7]. Liu, S. S.: The influence of family function and psychological resilience on test anxiety of senior high school students. Tianjin Normal University. Tianjin (2018)

[8]. Hu, X.: A study on the relationship among test anxiety, emotional intelligence, and psychological resilience and an intervention for junior middle school students. Chongqing Normal University. Chongqing (2023)

[9]. Yang, M. Y.: A study on the relationship among academic stress, psychological resilience and test anxiety in senior high school students. Guizhou Normal University. Guiyang (2016)

[10]. Wang, G., Zhang, Q. Q., & Huang, P. L.: The influence of academic stress and emotional regulation self-efficacy on test anxiety in middle school students. Mental Health Education in Primary and Secondary Schools (22), 25–27, 30 (2020)

[11]. Cui, K. W.: The effect of academic self-efficacy on test anxiety in middle school students: The role of fear of negative evaluation and core self-evaluation. Guangxi Minzu University. Nanning (2022)

Cite this article

Xu,W. (2025). A Review of the Impact of Self-Efficacy and Psychological Resilience on Test Anxiety in Middle School Students. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,115,24-30.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceeding of ICIHCS 2025 Symposium: The Dialogue Between Tradition and Innovation in Language Learning

ISBN: 978-1-80590-329-1(Print) / 978-1-80590-330-7(Online)
Editor: Heidi Gregory-Mina, Enrique Mallen
Conference date: 17 November 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.115
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)