Causes of Academic Anxiety Among Tertiary Institution Students in Ilorin Metropolis of Kwara State

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                      i

Approval                                                                        ii

Dedication                                                                     iii

Acknowledgements                                                       iv

Abstract                                                                        vi

Table of Contents                                                          vii

List of Tables                                                                 ix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study                                               1

Statement of the problem                                             13

Research questions                                                       15

Research Hypotheses                                                    17

Purpose of the study                                                     19

Significance of the Study                                              19

Scope of the Study                                                        22

Operational Definition of Terms                                    22

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE REVIEWED

Introduction                                                                  24

Nature and meaning of anxiety                                     25

Concept of Academic Anxiety                                        32

Theories of Anxiety                                                        34

Types of Anxiety                                                            39

Causes of Anxiety                                                          47

Effect of Anxiety                                                            53

Symptoms of Anxiety                                                     54

Fight and Flight Symptom                                            58

Experience of Tertiary institution students on Needs   60

Factors Influencing students’ performance                   65

Separation from Family and Natural support System   68

Reluctance to participate in class discussions due to

lack of confidence in English ability                              69

Summary of Review of the Related Literature               70

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

Introduction                                                                  73

Research Design                                                           73    

Instrumentation                                                            76

Pilot Testing                                                                  77

Psychometric properties of the Instrument                   77

Reliability of the Instrument                                         77

Validity of the Instrument                                             78

Procedure for Administration and Data Collection        80

Data Analysis Technique                                              81

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT

Introduction                                                                  88

Hypotheses Testing                                                       88    

Summary of Finding                                                     95

 

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Introduction                                                                  97

Discussions                                                                  97

Conclusion                                                                    102

Implication of the finding                                              104

Recommendations                                                        105

References                                                                     106

Appendix                                                                       110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:     Distribution of respondents based on

Gender                                                         83

Table 2:     Distribution of respondents’ based on

institution                                                    83

Table 3:     Distribution of respondents based on

marital status                                              84

Table 4:     Distribution of respondents based on age    85

Table 5:     Distribution of respondents based on mode

of residence                                                  85

Table 6:     Distribution of Respondents based on

Religion                                                        86

Table 7:     Mean and Rank order of respondents on

the causes of academic related Anxiety        87

Table 8:     Mean, standard Deviation and t-value of

respondents on the causes of academic

related anxiety based on Gender                  89

Table 9:     Means, standard deviation and t-value of

respondents on the causes of academic

related anxiety by marital status                 90

Table 10:   Means, standard Deviation and t-value of

respondents on the causes of academic

related anxiety on the basis of age               91

Table 11:   Mean, Standard Deviations and t-value of

respondents on the causes of academic

related anxiety on the basis of mode of

residence                                                     92

Table 12:   Mean, Standard Deviation and t-value of

 Respondents on the causes of Academic

Related Anxiety on the basis of Religion      93

Table 13:   Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Results

comparing responses on causes of academic

related anxiety on the basis of institution   94


CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION  

 

Background to the Problem

         Anxiety is one of the characteristic of human beings. Hence, to a certain extent, it is not necessarily pathological but on the contrary can be a strong motivation force towards growth. Anxiety results from the need to make rational choice without clear guidelines and without knowing what the outcome will be and from being aware that people were ultimately responsible for the consequences of our action (Covey, 1995). Anxiety usually occur when there is immediate threat to a person’s safely or well being.

         Anxiety makes a person to want to escapes an anxious situation fast (Covey, 1995). The heart beats quickly, the body might begin to perspire and “butter flies” in the stomach soon follow. However, a little bit of anxiety can actually help people stay alert and focused (Taylor & Francis, 2003). Anxiety is a basic human emotion consisting of fear and uncertainly that typically appears when an individual perceives an event as being a threat to the ego or self esteem (Samson, 1998).

         Samson (1998) defined anxiety as emotional stressful condition, within the organism. The deletenous effects of anxieties permeate both the mind and the body and if not controlled could hinder the functioning of the entire organism. Akinade (2005) defined anxiety as a phenomenological state of uneasiness or tension. From the external frame of reference anxiety is a state in which the incongruence between the concept of the self and the total experience of the individual causes emotional unbalance. Anxiety is a pervasive and unpleasant feeling of tension, dread, apprehension and impending disaster (Taylor & Francis, 1999) in the otherhand, fear is a response to a clear and present danger. The anxiety is often a response to an undefined conflict or unknown threat, which may stem from interact conflicts, feeling of insecurity or forbidden impulses. In both fear and anxiety, the body mobilizes itself to meet the threat and the muscles become tense, breathing is faster and the heart beats mere rapidly (Corsini, 1999).