engleski

The role of negative automatic thoughts in anxiety of college students

Research data as well as our experience working with students at the university counseling center indicate an increase in the number of students manifesting severe symptoms of stress and anxiety in the last decade. Our previous data indicate an increase of anxiety level during the 2nd year of college. The aim of this study is to follow the students during three years to see the changes in anxiety level. We also wanted to check the role of some possible contributors of the symptom change. The representative sample of 260 students was followed through the first three years of college. They were assessed three times with a battery of measures. During their adaptation period (1st semester) we have assessed their anxiety as a trait (STAI-T), as well as their present anxiety symptoms (BAI). Next year we have again assessed their anxiety symptoms, as well as their test anxiety, automatic thoughts during study and taking exam and their attributions of success. During the 6th semester we have again assessed their anxiety level and their academic success. The results show that anxiety as a trait is a significant predictor of anxiety symptoms at the second year of study, but it does not differentiate students with increase and decrease of anxiety level after one year at the university. Negative automatic thoughts related to fear of disappointing parents can best differentiate students with increase and decrease in anxiety symptoms. Further analyses will include the data from the third measurement as well as some more possible predictors of the change in anxiety level. Our results show that worry about academic failure, especially fear of not fulfilling parents’ expectations contribute to increase of anxiety symptoms in college students, especially in males. Possible interventions to prevent increase in anxiety are discussed.

anxiety; negative automatic thoughts; college students

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