Examining the relationship between the anxiety sensitivity and test anxiety in 8th grade students

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between anxiety sensitivity (AS) and test anxiety levels in eighth-grade students. Furthermore, it was aimed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with AS and test anxiety and examine the variables that predict test anxiety. The study group consisted of 421 students studying in public schools in the Çukurova District of Adana Province, 2020-2021 academic year. The data were obtained using the Personal Information Form, Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), and Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI). In the data analysis, the IBM SPSS 22.0 Windows package program was used. According to the findings of our study, both CASI and TAI subscale and total scores of female students were higher than male students (p<.05). Students who reported physical illness in their father have higher cognitive AS levels, and those with the physical illness have higher social AS levels. Students who reported mental illness in their parents had higher cognitive and total AS levels, and students who had a mental illness were found to have higher cognitive, physical, and total AS levels. All TAI scores were higher for students who reported a physical illness in their father and reported having a mental illness of their own. There was a significant positive correlation between CASI and SCI scores. It was found that academic achievement level, mental illness status, and CASI total score were predictive factors for TAI total score (F (7, 413) = 34.208; p<0.001). Our results indicated that AS should be considered as a predictor of test anxiety. The AS should be considered in the test anxiety intervention programs to be developed.