Skip to main content
Log in

Assessment of anxiety and achievement in kindergarten and first-and second-grade children

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The psychometric properties of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and relationships between STAIC T-Anxiety scores and standardized measures of achievement were determined for 948 kindergarten and first-and second-grade children. The T-anxiety scores of kindergarten children were lower than those of first-and second-graders. Internal consistency of the STAIC scales was higher in individual testing sessions than in small group administrations. Small but significant negative correlations were found between STAIC T-Anxiety scores and measures of school achievement. It was concluded that the STAIC is a potentially useful measure of state and trait anxiety in kindergarten through sixth-grade children, but it must be administered individually at the kindergarten and first-grade levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Castaneda, A., McCandless, B. R., & Palermo, D. S. (1956). The Children's Form of the Manifest Anxiety Scale.Child Development, 27, 317–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattell, R. B.,& Scheier, I. H. (1961).The meaning and measurement of neuroticism and anxiety New York: Ronald Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch, A. J., Jr., & Nelson, W. M., III. (1974). Anxiety and locus of conflict in emotionally disturbed children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2, 33–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch, A. J., Jr., Pezzute, K. N., Montgomery, L. E., & Kemp, S. R. (1974). Reflection-impulsivity and academic attainment in emotionally disturbed children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2, 71–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papay, J. P., Costello, R. J., Hedl, J. J., Jr., & Spielberger, C. D. (1975). Effects of trait and state anxiety on the performance of elementary school children in traditional and individualized multiage classrooms.Journal of Educational Psychology, 67, 840–846.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papay, J. P., & Hedl, J. J., Jr. (1978). Psychometric characteristics and norms for disadvantaged third-and fourth-grade children on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, S. B., Davidson, K. S., Lighthall, F. F., Waite, R. R., & Ruebush, B. K. (1960).Anxiety in elementary school children. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1962). The effects of manifest anxiety on the academic achievement of college students.Mental Hygiene, 46, 420–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1966). Theory and research on anxiety. In C. D. Spielberger (Ed.),Anxiety and behavior. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1972). Anxiety as an emotional state. In C. D. Spielberger (Ed.),Anxiety: Current trends in theory and research (Vol. 1). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1973).State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children: Preliminary manual. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1979).Understanding stress and anxiety. London: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1983).Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1984).State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: A comprehensive bibliography. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D., O'Neil, H. F., & Hansen, D. N. (1972). Anxiety, drive theory, and computer-assisted learning. In B. A. Maher,Progress in experimental personality research, (pp. 109–148). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The research was performed while the senior author was a senior research scientist at the Dallas Independent School District.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Papay, J.P., Spielberger, C.D. Assessment of anxiety and achievement in kindergarten and first-and second-grade children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 14, 279–286 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915446

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915446

Keywords

Navigation