AN EFFECTS OF PRACTICING BUDDHIST MANTRAS TO REDUCE ANXIETY FOR EXAMINATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The objectives of this research were; 1) to study concepts and theories of how to reduce an anxiety in the examination of primary students based on Buddhist psychology; 2) to develop a Buddhist mantras chanting activity plan to reduce an anxiety in the examination of primary students; and 3) to study an effect of reducing an anxiety in the examination of primary students after applying a Buddhist Mantras chanting activity plan to reduce an anxiety in the examination of primary students. The study was quasi-research in nature. The sample group consisted of 24 Grade 6 students. The research instruments included a Buddhist Mantras chanting activity plan to reduce exam anxiety and an anxiety measurement scale. The statistics used included percentage, mean, standard deviation, and t-test.

Its findings were as follows: 1) The principles of Buddhist psychology used to enhance the reduction of exam anxiety included the concept of chanting, the Bala 5, and the theory of social cognitive learning. The approach to developing factors that reduced anxiety consisted of four factors: learner motivation and attitude, teaching methods, high expectations, and negative evaluations. 2) The activity plan for Buddhist chanting to reduce exam anxiety in elementary students consisted of three stages: the introduction stage, the activity stage, and the conclusion stage, with a total of 8 activity plans. 3)  The results of implementing the activity plan showed that after using the plan, students' anxiety significantly decreased compared to before the plan was used, at a significance level of 0.05. This had a combined effect on the reduction of exam anxiety scores. The average anxiety reduction scores during and after the experiment significantly decreased compared to before the experiment, with statistical significance.