Test anxiety is a common issue among students facing exams. Worry, fear, or unease can make students nervous before a test. This anxiety can affect their performance and well-being. Symptoms may include a racing heart, sweaty palms, or trouble concentrating. It's crucial to understand that some stress level is normal and can even motivate one to study.
However, when test anxiety becomes overwhelming, it can lead to problems. Techniques like deep breathing, staying organized, and practicing relaxation can help manage test anxiety. Seeking support from teachers or counselors is also essential to perform well in exams.
Clinical Trial
A clinical trial investigated whether a probiotic called Lactobacillus plantarum JYLP-326 can make a difference for students with test anxiety. Sixty anxious students enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups: one got a placebo (a fake treatment), and the other got the probiotic JYLP-326. Both groups took their products twice a day for three weeks. A third group of thirty calm students didn't get any treatment. The researchers used questionnaires to check how the students felt at the start and end of the study. Researchers analyzed their gut bacteria and stool chemicals using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics.
Results
The questionnaires showed that the students who took JYLP-326 felt better. Their anxiety, depression, and sleep problems improved. The students in the placebo group had more diverse gut bacteria than the calm students. They had more of some bacteria like Bacteroides and Roseburia but less of others like Prevotella and Bifidobacterium. However, the students who took JYLP-326 had a better balance in their gut bacteria, similar to students without test anxiety.
Students with test anxiety had elevated Ethyl sulfate levels and too little Cyclohexylamine in stool. However, after taking JYLP-326, these were normalized.
Conclusion
This study suggests that taking L. plantarum JYLP-326 could help college students with test anxiety. It made them less anxious, less depressed, and sleep better. This probiotic works by fixing their gut bacteria and stool chemicals. Students with test anxiety may benefit from probiotics, an effective alternative to medication or therapy. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand how the probiotic helps.
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