PARENTING STYLES AND PERSONALITY TRAITS AS PERDICTORS OF EXAMINATION ANXIETY AMONG STUDENTS OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR NIGERIAN LANGUAGES, ABA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined parenting styles and personality traits as predictors of examination anxiety among student National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. 400 students of National Institute for Nigerian Languages, aged 18-48 years (mean-age 30.1) and SD 8.10 were sampled using convenient sampling technique. A predictive design was used while the Parenting Style Scale, (PSC) Big Five Personality Inventory (BPI) and Examination Anxiety Scale (EAS) were the instruments. Statistics was Hierarchical regression. Result indicated that only authoritarian parenting significantly predicted examination anxiety (R2 = .079, t = 2.434; p < .05). All the dimensions of personality traits significantly predicted examination anxiety, with openness to experience (R2 = .238, t = 5.672; p < .05), conscientiousness (R2 = .238, t = 3.350; p < .05), agreeableness (R2 = .238, t = 5.278; p < .05) and neuroticism (R2 = .238, t = 3.490; p < .05) positively predicting examination anxiety while extraversion (R2 = .238, t = -2.978; p < .05) negatively predicted examination anxiety. Recommendation was for parents to abstain from using authoritarian parenting on the children, so as to reduce students’ examination anxiety.