Assessment of test anxiety in Portuguese adolescents: Psychometric properties of the Cognitive Test Anxiety Revised

Abstract

Introduction

Test anxiety represents a considerable personal burden due to its interfering nature and is associated with a range of deleterious life trajectories, encompassing school difficulties and health consequences. Although test anxiety seems to be highly prevalent and the pathological symptoms are similar to those of other childhood anxiety disorders, there are specificities that deserve a more in-depth approach. Given that adolescents seem to experience test anxiety in several school grades there is a need for a valid and reliable scale to measure test anxiety in school age students.

Objective

This study aims to adapt and analyse the psychometric properties of the Cognitive Test Anxiety Revised (CTAR25) for Portuguese adolescents. In addition, the convergent and divergent validities were examined with related constructs.

Methods

Participants were 279 adolescents, with ages between 12 and 19 years old, attending middle and high schools. Together with CTAR₂₅, participants also filled out self-report questionnaires assessing tests anxiety (TAI), self-esteem (RSES), procrastination (QPE) and worry (PSWQ-C).

Results

The scale showed good internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and good validity. Factor analysis revealed the existence of two factors with good internal consistency.

Discussion

Results showed that the Portuguese version of CTAR-25 is a valid and reliable self-report instrument for the assessment of test anxiety in adolescents, replicating the findings of the original version.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.