Original scientific paper
The Role of Automatic Thoughts and Test Anxiety in University Students' Achievements
Ivanka ŽIVČIĆ-BEČIREVIĆ
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to investigate the contribution of
automatic thoughts and test anxiety in predicting university
students' academic achievement. The Student Automatic
Thoughts Questionnaire was developed and resulted in four
reliable factors: fear of failure, fear of disappointing parents,
positive thoughts, lack of motivation and interest. The
Spielberger Test Anxiety Questionnaire resulted in two
reliable factors: emotional (physiological) and cognitive test
anxiety. 337 university higher-year students from different
schools were assessed. It has been found that all three types
of negative automatic thoughts (fear of failure, fear of
disappointing parents and lack of motivation) are significant
predictors of state test anxiety on a specific exam. Positive
thoughts are not a significant predictor of test anxiety, but
are a significant predictor of academic achievement (average
grade on previous exams), as well as negative thoughts
related to fear of disappointing parents and negative
thoughts related to lack of motivation and interest.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
19311
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2003.
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