Ansiedad ante exámenes en universitarios: papel de engagement, inteligencia emocional y factores asociados con pruebas académicas / Test Anxiety university students: role of engagement, emotional intelligence and factors associated to academic test solving

Resumen Introducción: La ansiedad ante los exámenes (AE) es común entre universitarios e implica manifestaciones cognitivas, motoras y fisiológicas de tensión y preocupación permanente ante la evaluación que puede afectar su desempeño académico. Objetivo: Evaluar si el engagement, la inteligencia emocional y los factores asociados con la realización de pruebas académicas predicen las manifestaciones de AE en una muestra de 400 estudiantes universitarios. Método: Mediante un diseño predictivo transversal se evaluó el engagement (Vigor, Dedicación, Absorción), la inteligencia emocional (Atención, Claridad, Reparación) y diversos factores relacionados con pruebas académicas, analizando su relación con las manifestaciones de AE, y se construyeron modelos de regresión categórica para definir el nivel predictivo de las variables. Resultados: Se descartó la relación entre engagement y AE (p>0,05) mientras que Claridad y Reparación se asociaron inversamente con las manifestaciones de AE, excepto las fisiológicas. Diferentes factores asociados con la realización de exámenes como control docente, temor a la evaluación y tipo de preguntas predicen las respuestas de ansiedad fisiológica (R2=0,10, p<0,01), motora (R2=0,09, p<0,01) y cognitiva (R2=0,12, p<0,01). La Claridad predice negativamente la ansiedad motora (β=-0,131, p<0,01). Conclusiones: Engagement académico y AE se registran como variables independientes una de la otra, entre tanto, la Claridad emocional regula débilmente la ansiedad motora. Factores cognitivos y situacionales al momento de realizar exámenes son relevantes en el desencadenamiento de la respuesta ansiosa.

Abstract Introduction: Test Anxiety (TA) is common among university students and involves cognitive, motor, and physiological manifestations of tension and permanent concern about exams that may affect their academic performance. Objective: Assess whether engagement, emotional intelligence and factors associated with academic test solving predict the manifestations of TA in a sample of 400 university students. Method: Using a cross-sectional predictive design, engagement (Vigor, Dedication, Absorption), emotional intelligence (Attention, Clarity, Repair) and several factors related to academic test solving were evaluated, analyzing their relationship with the manifestations of TA, and categorical regression models were constructed to define the predictive level of the variables. Results: The relationship between engagement and TA was discarded (p>0,05) while Clarity and Repair were inversely associated with TA manifestations, except the physiological ones. Different factors associated with exams such as professor control, fear of exams and the question type predict physiological (R2=0,10, p<0,01), motor (R2=0,09, p<0,01) and cognitive (R2=0,12, p<0,01) anxiety responses. Clarity predicts motor anxiety (β=-0,131, p<0,01) negatively. Conclusions: Academic engagement and TA are registered as independent variables of each other; meanwhile, emotional Clarity regulates motor anxiety weakly. Cognitive and situational factors at the time of exams are relevant in the triggering of the anxious response.

Predictores de la ansiedad ante la estadística: Ansiedad ante los exámenes y baja depuración cognitiva / Statistics anxiety is predicted by test anxiety and lack of cognitive depuration

Las competencias en estadística responden al desarrollo de habilidades esenciales para la comprensión de la realidad y la toma de decisiones personales y profesionales. Un gran número de profesiones emplea la estadística como elemento esencial en investigación y análisis de información, pero también es común la respuesta de ansiedad ante estos contenidos. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las estrategias metacognitivas implicadas en procesos de ansiedad ante la estadística, así como el papel de la ansiedad ante los exámenes en este fenómeno. Se analizó una muestra de universitarios habituados al tratamiento de información cuantitativa, en ellos se observaron bajos niveles de estrategias metacognitivas para el aprendizaje y niveles moderados de ansiedad. En un modelo de regresión se identificó que la ansiedad estadística se predice débilmente por la falta de depuración y fuertemente por la ansiedad ante los exámenes

Statistics competencies respond to the development of essential skills for understanding reality and making personal and professional decisions. A lot of professions use statistics as an essential element in research and information analysis, but anxiety about statistical content is also common. The objective of this study was to analyze the metacognitive strategies involved in processes of statistics anxiety, as well as the role of test anxiety in this phenomenon. We analyzed a sample of university students accustomed to the treatment of quantitative information, in which low levels of metacognitive strategies for learning and moderate levels of anxiety were observed. In a regression model, it was identified that statistics anxiety is weakly predicted due to the lack of depuration and strongly by test anxiety

Estudo retrospectivo dos níveis de ácido hipúrico urinário em exames de toxicologia ocupacional / A retrospective study analysis of urinary hippuric acid levels in occupational toxicology exams

O ácido hipúrico é o principal metabólito do tolueno, solvente amplamente utilizado em processos industriais e com importantes efeitos tóxicos, fato que justifica a preocupação em monitorar regularmente sujeitos com risco de exposição ocupacional a este solvente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os níveis de ácido hipúrico encontrados em trabalhadores submetidos à monitorização biológica. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo com dados dos anos de 2002 a 2005, no qual foram analisados os resultados e a situação do empregado na oportunidade do exame (periódico, demissional e admissional). Os resultados indicam uma redução significativa nos níveis de ácido hipúrico em 2005. Exames periódicos obtiveram resultados superiores aos exames admissionais e demissionais, e não foi verificada diferença significativa nas proporções dos sujeitos agrupados de acordo com a situação funcional em cada um dos intervalos estabelecidos segundo o valor de referência e o índice biológico máximo permitido. Os níveis de ácido hipúrico detectados indicam um baixo de risco de exposição ao tolueno na população avaliada, provavelmente em decorrência da preocupação crescente com a implantação de medidas de higiene ocupacional.

Hippuric acid is the primary metabolite of toluene, a solvent widely used in industrial processes with considerable toxic effects, a fact which justifies regularly monitoring individuals with occupational exposure to this solvent. This work aims at evaluating urinary hippuric acid levels found in workers subject to biological monitoring. A retrospective study was carried out with data referring from 2002 to 2005, in which exams results and employment status were analyzed (periodic, post-employment, and pre-employment exams). Results indicate a significant reduction in hippuric acid levels for 2005. Periodic exams presented higher results than pre-employment and post-employment exams. No significant difference was found in individuals grouped according to their status in each of the established intervals, their reference numbers, and maximum biological levels allowed. Hippuric acid levels detected indicate low risk of toluene exposure for the population under evaluation, probably due to a growing concern with the deployment of measures regarding occupational hygiene.