6533b826fe1ef96bd1283c5f

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The effects of school anxiety on self-esteem and self-handicapping in pupils attending primary school

Gaetano RappoAnnamaria PepiMarianna Alesi

subject

Social Psychologymedia_common.quotation_subjectself-handicappingHigh anxiety050109 social psychologyAverage levelDevelopmental psychologySettore M-PSI/04 - Psicologia Dello Sviluppo E Psicologia Dell'EducazionechildrenDevelopmental and Educational Psychologymedicine0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesSchool anxietymedia_commonself-esteem05 social sciencesPerspective (graphical)Self-esteemTest (assessment)NormativeAnxietySelf-handicappingmedicine.symptomPsychology050104 developmental & child psychologyClinical psychology

description

School anxiety appears to be related to self-esteem and self-handicapping strategies. This study aims at identifying children with atypical levels of anxiety and examining the relationship between their self-esteem at school and their use of self-handicapping strategies. The sample included 120 pupils (M = 8.6 years) attending third grade of primary school and was divided into three groups: pupils with low anxiety, average anxiety and high anxiety. Children were administered the Scale for Evaluation of Anxiety (SAFA A), the TMA - Multidimensional test of Self-esteem- and the Self-Handicapping Scale for Children. On the whole, results demonstrate a nearly normative distribution of school anxiety in a nonclinical sample. Pupils with an average level of school anxiety showed a higher level of Self-esteem and engaged more in self-handicapping strategies. The developmental perspective suggests the importance of preventive research in order to identify any risk factors of subsequent anxiety disorders at an early age.

10.1080/17405629.2016.1239578http://hdl.handle.net/10447/204946