A INFLUÊNCIA DA ATIVIDADE FÍSICA NA ANSIEDADE DE TESTES EM ESTUDANTES: ESTRATÉGIAS DE ENFRENTAMENTO - UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

THE INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON TEST ANXIETY IN STUDENTS: COPING STRATEGIES - AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

In educational settings, test anxiety is a specific form of anxiety that occurs in evaluation situations, characterized by context-specific stimuli, promoting psychological, physiological, and behavioral changes associated with excessive worry about outcomes. A literature review was conducted to analyze physical activity as a coping strategy for test anxiety in students and its interfaces with mental health. The following databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Prospero, Web of Science, Scielo, ERIC, and Scopus, covering the period from January 2008 to January 2024, were used to select systematic review articles, with and without meta-analysis, in English, addressing the potential physical activity practices as strategies to cope with anxiety, especially test anxiety. Data extraction was carried out using Rayyan. A total of 2,943 articles were found, with 38 included. Systematic reviews highlight an effective relationship between physical activity and coping with general anxiety; however, the evidence regarding test anxiety is still limited. The studies support the positive influence of physical activity in coping with anxiety and suggest it as a necessary and promising intervention to mitigate anxiety, particularly test anxiety, with potential contributions to improved physical and mental health for the population, especially among students.

KEYWORDS: physical activity, exercise, anxiety, test anxiety, mental health, and students.