RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND TEST ANXIETY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS IN UGHELLI, DELTA STATE

Abstract

The study was designed to determine the relationship between self-esteem and test
anxiety of senior secondary school students in Economics in Ughelli, Delta State. Five
research questions were raised and two hypotheses were formulated for the study. The
study adopted correlational-descriptive research design. The population of study
comprised 172 SS II Economics students from two private secondary schools in
Ughelli. A sample size of 60 SS II Economics students made up of (30 male and 30
female Economics students) was selected for the study using convenient sampling
technique. The researchers adapted Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965) and Test
Anxiety Questionnaire (Suinn, 1969) as instruments for data collection. Cronbach
alpha statistic was used to establish the reliability co-efficient of Rosenberg SelfEsteem Scale which yielded 0.76 while that of Test Anxiety Questionnaire was 0.81.
Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research question 1 and 2 while
Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to answer research
question 3, 4 and 5 and in testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.
Findings of the study revealed that private secondary schools male Economics
students have high self-esteem score than their female counterparts. The study further
disclosed that private secondary schools female Economics students have high test
anxiety score than their male counterparts. In addition, the study revealed that a
negative and low relationship exists between self-esteem and test anxiety of private
senior secondary school students in Economics irrespective of their gender. More so,
outcome of the study indicated that a significant relationship exists between male and
female students’ self-esteem and their test anxiety in Economics and the null
hypotheses were rejected. The researchers concluded that high self-perception tend to
reduces students’ level of anxiety in Economics in private secondary schools. The
study recommended among others that, female secondary schools students’ should
develop positive attitude and see Economics subject as an interesting subject.