Academic stress, test anxiety and performance among secondary school Students of Mbale Progressive Secondary School

Abstract

The Purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between academic stress, test anxiety and academic performance. The study was intending to achieve objectives: To examine the relationship between stress and anxiety, to ascertain the relationship between stress and performance and to determine the relationship between performance and anxiety. The study was using sample of 50 respondents who were adopted using sampling technique data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and later analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists) version 20.0. The findings show that academic stress and test anxiety are positively and insignificantly related (p=.160 at r=.202) furthermore the findings show that academic stress and academic performance are positively and insignificantly related (P=.063, r=.264).How ever findings show that test anxiety and academic performance are negatively and insignificantly related (P=.618, r=-.072)But it was recommended that to effectively manage test anxiety, students can be helped by teachers, parents and educational administrators through use of cognitive, affective and behavioral strategies.