Breaking down Positive Orientation to Self-Esteem, Optimism and Life Satisfaction: What predicts Test Anxiety?

Abstract: Positive orientation is a pre-dispositional trait containing three components: self-esteem, optimism and life satisfaction. The components are linked to enhanced well-being and coping better with stressful situations and anxiety. The goal for this study was to examine if positive orientation predicts test anxiety and explore which component is the strongest predictor. Students (n=311, 73,6% females) from Örebro University between age 20 to 30 answered an internet survey. Results suggest that participants with a positive orientation experienced less test anxiety and among the three components of positive orientation, self-esteem is the strongest predictor of test anxiety. The study provides evidence that a positive orientation, potentially through the self-esteem component, contributes to lower levels of test anxiety.