Examination Anxiety Among in-School Adolescents: Parental Factors, School Environment and Gender as Determinants

Habeeb Omoponle Adewuyi; Moromoke Nimota Raji; Babatunde Adewole Ajani; Sylvester E. Umanhonlen; Ayodeji Solomon Adegoke

Authors

Habeeb Omoponle Adewuyi Department of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Moromoke Nimota Raji Department of Guidance and Counselling, Osun state University, Nigeria
Babatunde Adewole Ajani Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Sylvester E. Umanhonlen Department of Counselling and Human Development Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Ayodeji Solomon Adegoke Department of Psychology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA

Keywords:

Examination Anxiety, Parental Factors, School Environment, Gender

Abstract

This study examined examination anxiety among secondary school students. The study considers parental factors, school environment, and gender as determinants. This study employed a multi-stage sampling technique. Two hundred and eighty-five secondary school students made the study's sample. Data was collected using reliable instruments: (Parental Factors scale α = 0.76; School Environment Inventory α = 0.78; and Westside Test Anxiety Scale α = 0.84). From the results, the examination anxiety among students was influenced by gender: females (Mean = 40.5205) and males (Mean = 42.4748). There is a strong correlation between parental factors (r = .688; p.<05), school environment (r = .166; p.<05), gender (r = .081; p.<05) and examination anxiety of students. The most significant contribution to the prediction in terms of magnitude was made by parental factors (β = .680; t = 15.976; p<0.05), followed by School environment (β = .113; t = 2.660; p<0.05) and gender (β = .085; t = 2.013; p<0.05). The study underscores the need for both the home and the school to cooperate to keep the learners focused on their education. They should also encourage, inspire, and equip the students with adequate motivation to reduce anxiety during examinations.

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