Abstract

SENDER, R. et al. Why do people fear exams?. Educ. méd. [online]. 2004, vol.7, n.1, pp.36-41. ISSN 1575-1813.

Introduction: Psychological traits are analysed in a sample of medicine students (n=32) who requested treatment for their fear of examinations. Material and method: Psychopathological variables were evaluated by GHQ-28 and STAI; perceived stress by the UNCAHS, and sensitivity to punishment and reward by the SPSR questionnaire. The group’s scores were compared with those obtained by a control group comprising first-year medicine students. Results: 90% of the sample were woman and 25% had received (or were receiving) psychological or psychiatric attention. Among students who asked for treatment there was a higher rate of psychopathology, a higher sensitivity to punishment and lower sensitivity to reward than among controls. Conclusions: Students with fear of examinations were more sensitive to punishment and less sensitive to reward, and showed more depressive and obsessive symptoms than controls.

Keywords : perceived stress; anxiety; sensitivity to punishment; sensitivity to reward; medical students.

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