| This study investigated the use of a mandala drawing activity to reduce test anxiety in a small group of fifth grade students. A group of six students both boys and girls from a private North Florida School participated in the 4 week pilot study which met 5 times. The participants were given a pretest survey, the Children`s Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS), to evaluate how often the students experience test anxiety. The survey was given during the first session approximately 2 weeks prior to the initiation of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Three meetings consisted of an introduction to the mandala activity and opportunities for the students to create their own mandalas. One of these meetings allowed the students to create a mandala immediately before the first section of the FCAT was administered. The students completed the CTAS as a posttest during the final meeting. The scores of the post-evaluation were compared to the pre-evaluation scores in reference to the change in test anxiety levels due to the mandala activity. The results show some reduction in levels of test anxiety which when analyzed with a t-test did not show significance. The qualitative data collected through the form of behaviors displayed in the meetings demonstrated an overall improvement experienced during the course of the program. Suggestions for further research and suggestions for art therapy practitioners were discussed. |
