STUDY OF ACADEMIC ANXIETY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

This study was conducted to examine academic anxiety as predictors of academic achievement of secondary school students. The sample of 300 10th class students (150 boys: 75 rural & 75 urban; 150 girls: 75 rural & 75 urban) was randomly selected from government and private schools of Sambhal district. Tools for collecting the data included Academic Anxiety Scale for Children (AASC) by Dr. A.K. Singh and Dr. A. Sen Gupta (2009).The data were analyzed using descriptive analyses (Mean, Standard Deviations), correlational analyses (Coefficient of Correlation „r‟) and differential analyses („t‟- test). The findings of the present study revealed that academic anxiety is significantly and inversely related to academic achievement of secondary school students. It is also found that there is a significance difference between boys & girls and government & private secondary school students on the variable academic anxiety. However non-significant results are observed in case of (i) rural and urban secondary school students on the measure of academic anxiety and academic achievement and (ii) government and private secondary school students in respect of their academic achievement. The findings of the study may help in designing programs and strategies to manage the academic anxiety efficiently which may result into enhanced academic performance.