Academic Anxiety in Relation to Intelligence, Study Habits, Socio-Economic Status and School Environment among Science and Non-Science Sample

Abstract

Academic anxiety is a prevalent concern affecting students across various academic disciplines. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between academic anxiety, intelligence, study habits, socio-economic status, and school environment among science and non-science students. A sample of 677 students from both science and non-science disciplines participated in the study. To assess academic anxiety, participants completed validated questionnaires measuring their levels of apprehension and unease towards academic tasks and evaluations. Intelligence was assessed using standardized cognitive tests and study habits were evaluated through study habits inventory by Dr. Lajwanti., N.P.S. Chandel., & A. Paliwal. (2013). subsequently, socio-economic status was determined based on family income and parental educational attainment. School environment variables, including academic expectations, teacher support, and school culture, were assessed using school climate surveys. Preliminary findings indicate that academic anxieties have significant negative correlation with intelligence, study habits and socio-economic status among science and non-science sample. However, it was found to be positive with school environment among science and non-science sample. The school environment plays a significant role in influencing academic anxiety. Supportive school environments with positive teacher-student relationships and appropriate academic expectations were associated with lower levels of academic anxiety in both science and non-science students. Significant negative correlation was also found between academic anxiety (predictor variable) and intelligence, study habits and socio-economic status (criterion variable) among male and female sample and total sample. Furthermore, Pearson Product Moment Correlation was also calculated in order to find out the relationship between academic anxiety and intelligence, study habits and socio-economic status among science male and female sample, non-science male and female sample. It was found to be negative among all sampling groups mentioned above however positive correlation was found to observed between academic anxiety and school environment among all sampling groups under study.