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1 – 10 of over 34000This study aims to explore information-seeking anxiety (ISA) among undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students at Dr Babasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, located in Dapoli…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore information-seeking anxiety (ISA) among undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students at Dr Babasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, located in Dapoli, Distt. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. The research focuses on evaluating the intensity of ISA, understanding its underlying causes and identifying potential strategies to reduce its effects, particularly within the context of an agricultural university.
Design/methodology/approach
This research intends to examine Information seeking anxiety (ISA) among undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students at Dr Babasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth located in Dapoli District, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. This research intends to examine and investigate the intensity of ISA among students at an agriculture university, its root causes and possible methods to reduce its effects. The research adopts quantitative surveys with qualitative secondary sources to achieve a comprehensive understanding of ISA among students. A standardized scale was used as the primary data collection tool to assess participants’ levels of ISA. A total of 122 students participated in the study, completing the survey and providing valuable data for analysis.
Findings
The findings reveal a range of ISA levels among students, indicating the presence of varied information skills and abilities. This underscores the need for well-structured information literacy programs tailored to address these disparities. A significant gender-based difference in ISA was observed, with female students exhibiting lower anxiety levels in relation to “integrated elements 3” at a significance level of .05 (t = 1.327). Interestingly, the study found that the students' rural or urban backgrounds did not significantly impact their ISA levels. Additionally, various integrated elements within the information seeking anxiety scale were found to be interconnected, contributing to the overall anxiety experienced by students.
Research limitations/implications
The study highlights the importance of designing and implementing targeted interventions to address ISA in academic settings. These findings suggest that tailored information literacy programs could be effective in reducing ISA among students. Future research could build on these results by examining ISA across different disciplines and institutions, thereby contributing to the development of broader, more generalized strategies for mitigating ISA in diverse educational contexts. Individuals may not accurately recall or report their anxiety levels, potentially affecting the study’s findings. This study’s findings may not be generalizable to all agriculture university users due to factors such as the specific university setting, student demographics and agricultural disciplines represented.
Practical implications
This study provides actionable insights for academic institutions, particularly agricultural universities, in developing targeted information literacy programs. These programs can be designed to address varying levels of ISA among students, enhancing their ability to effectively seek and use information. Additionally, understanding the gender differences in ISA can guide the creation of more inclusive resources and support systems, ultimately improving the overall academic experience and reducing anxiety-related barriers to learning.
Social implications
The research highlights the broader societal impact of ISA, particularly how it can affect students’ academic success and overall well-being. By addressing ISA through tailored interventions, institutions can contribute to reducing educational inequalities, especially in rural and underrepresented communities. This can foster a more equitable learning environment where all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to thrive academically and socially.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the relatively underexplored area of ISA within the context of agricultural universities. By combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, the research offers a comprehensive understanding of ISA, its causes and potential solutions. The findings provide new insights into how gender and integrated elements of ISA influence anxiety levels, offering valuable contributions to the field of library and information science, particularly in specialized educational settings like agricultural universities.
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Nazim Ata, Berna Aytac, Dijan Ertemir, Muzaffer Cetinguc and Ebru Yazgan
Aeromedical training is meant to train aircrew in combating physiological problems that they might face in flight. Given the importance of the training, there are limited studies…
Abstract
Purpose
Aeromedical training is meant to train aircrew in combating physiological problems that they might face in flight. Given the importance of the training, there are limited studies in the literature investigating the anxiety levels during aeromedical training along with training outcomes. This study aims to assess the untrained participants’ anxiety levels before and after aeromedical training, investigate the differences in anxiety levels across different physiological training devices and determine whether participants’ anxiety levels affect their G tolerances.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was carried out on 61 healthy male subjects (n = 61) who had applied for initial aeromedical training. Anxiety surveys and visual analog scales were administered before and after the practical aeromedical training. In addition, blood pressure and heart rate measurements were carried out.
Findings
Participants had significantly higher anxiety levels before human centrifuge training (pre-Glab) than before the altitude chamber training (pre-hypobaric). Participants who experienced G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) had slightly more anxiety reported than the non-G-LOC group. There was a significant decrease between pre-Glab and post-Glab (after the human centrifuge training) and between pre-hypobaric and post-hypobaric (after the altitude chamber training) anxiety levels. The incidence of G-LOC was lower in participants having higher pre-G-Lab blood pressure. However, the difference in anxiety levels between the G-LOC group and the non-G-LOC group was not statistically significant.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, state anxiety inventory was not performed after human centrifuge training as centrifuge training lasted for around 5 min only, and it is not advisable to repeat state anxiety inventory in such short periods. Blood pressure was not measured after G-Lab training because human centrifuge training is hard training and has an impact on blood pressure. Hence, it would have been difficult to distinguish whether the blood pressure change was due to anxiety or hard physical activity. These limitations, especially for the G-Lab, caused us to evaluate state anxiety only with VAS. It would be worthwhile to repeat similar studies with objective measurements before and after the training.
Practical implications
This information suggests that instructors who train the applicants on aerospace medicine be ready for the possible consequences of anxiety.
Originality/value
There are only a few centers in the world that include all the physiological training devices (practical aeromedical training laboratories) together. To the best of authors’ knowledge, there are no studies in the literature investigating the differences in anxiety levels across various physiological training devices. The studies about the effect of anxiety levels on aeromedical training outcomes and anxiety levels before and after the training are scant.
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The purpose of this study is to explore the effect on distress of senior citizen’s anxiety levels in quarantine during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This is a descriptive…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the effect on distress of senior citizen’s anxiety levels in quarantine during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. This is a descriptive study, in which data were collected using the online survey method, a sociodemographic form, a semi-structured data form for second wave COVID-19, the anxiety-level scale and the distress scale.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected during the period when a curfew was imposed for the senior citizen. Data were analyzed using a structural equation model. According to the structural equation model, anxiety was determined as a predictor of distress.
Findings
The anxiety levels of the senior citizen who were 60–69 years old, female, single; had inadequate knowledge about the pandemic; and had not encountered a similar pandemic before considered that family bonding was affected negatively, so they became alone and reported that they became bored, exhausted and distressed during the pandemic, which increased their distress levels. Anxiety affects distress in the senior citizens.
Practical implications
One of the policy implications of this study is that governments should provide behavioral support to citizens during a pandemic. For example, short-term home-based psychological interventions should be developed to reduce the negative effects of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health.
Originality/value
The anxiety levels increased distress levels for those senior citizens who considered their information about the second wave of COVID-19 insufficient; had hyper-emotionality; longed for their families; and felt tense, overwhelmed and lonely during the pandemic. In addition, factors such as constraints of flexibilities, prevention of socialization and decreased physical movements also affect distress in senior citizens.
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Viktoriia Gorbunova, Vitalii Klymchuk, Olha Savychenko, Valeriia Palii, Zemfira Kondur, Viola Popenko and John Oates
This paper aims to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation among the Romani population in Ukraine and their connections with various social…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation among the Romani population in Ukraine and their connections with various social health determinants: age, gender, household characteristics, employment and living conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
For measuring mental health conditions, GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were used. Individual interviews were conducted by trained volunteers of the International Charitable Organization “Roma Women’s Foundation Chirikli”. Data were gathered from January to March 2020.
Findings
The overall level of depression found in the sample was 8.08, while the mean for anxiety was 7.22. In general, 32.7% of respondents scored positively for signs of depression and 29.6% for anxiety. The two-week prevalence of suicidal ideations was 26.9%. Compared to the general population, the prevalence of depression among the Romani research participants was twofold higher, and anxiety was 2.5-fold higher. Signs of depression and anxiety in women were significantly higher (36% vs 28.6% for depression and 33.9% vs 24.2% for anxiety) than in men. Signs of depression and anxiety were higher for people without education than for university students (9.32 vs 3.04 for depression and 8.26 vs 3.00 for anxiety). The lowest levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation were among officially married persons (6.61, 6.36 and 0.23, respectively). Significant small positive correlations were found between all measurements and the number of household members (0.149 for depression, 0.124 for suicidal ideation and 0.175 for anxiety; p < 0.001) and the number of children (0.303 for depression, 0.224 for suicidal ideation and 0.243 for anxiety; p < 0.001). In terms of employment, the highest scores for depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation were found among those who are employed seasonally (9.06, 8.25 and 0.61) or irregularly (9.09, 8.12 and 0.57) in contrast with self-employed (4.88, 4.90 and 0.19) and full-time employees (5.86, 5.51 and 0.18). Living place (city, village or camp) showed no relation with mental health, except for suicidal ideation: those living in villages had higher levels of suicidal ideation than those living in cities (0.49 vs 0.31).
Research limitations/implications
The study has some limitations. Data were gathered from January to March 2020, and since then, the situation in Ukraine has drastically changed due to the full-scale Russian invasion. While this study’s data and conclusions might serve as a baseline for further research, they do not represent the real-time situation. While many social factors were analysed, the effects found for them do not necessarily represent causality, given the statistical methods used. Interactions among factors were not studied; therefore, no firm conclusions can be made about the effects of those interactions on mental health.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is original in terms of its topic, as the first-ever in Ukraine quantitative study of mental health and social determinants of mental health of the Romani population.
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Ümit Şengel, Gökhan Genç, Merve Işkın, Mustafa Çevrimkaya, Burhanettin Zengin and Mehmet Sarıışık
This study aims to investigate the effect of tourists' anxiety levels regarding pandemic on their intention to travel and intention to destination visit as a reflection of risk…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effect of tourists' anxiety levels regarding pandemic on their intention to travel and intention to destination visit as a reflection of risk perception.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a quantitative research design. Multivariate statistical methods were used because they predict cause and effect relationships. The data collection process was completed in 32 days between March 20 and April 20, 2020. Smart-PLS software was used for data analysis.
Findings
According to the study results, the level of concern tourists have about the COVID-19 outbreak directly affected their intention to travel and indirectly affected their intention to visit destinations.
Research limitations/implications
According to the results of the study, people's anxiety levels about COVID-19 will negatively affect their travel behavior after the pandemic. Such results suggest that when potential travelers' pandemic-induced anxiety levels increase, their travel intention after the pandemic will decrease. In addition, there is a positive relationship between people's intention to travel and post-COVID-19 touristic visit intentions. Therefore, as people's travel intentions increase, so do their destination visit intentions. Another important theoretical implication of this research is that people's pandemic-induced anxiety levels have been shown to negatively affect their destination visit intention through the mediating variable of travel intention.
Practical implications
A multidimensional and stakeholder engagement process needs to be followed to decrease the influences of the pandemic on destinations. Destination management organizations (DMOs) can take an active role in crisis periods to encourage stakeholder participation while attracting tourism demand in the post-COVID-19 era.
Originality/value
This study is important for its topical relevance and for providing specific theoretical and practical implications concerning tourists' travel behavior.
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The present study focuses on the link between foreign language anxiety (FLA), self-perceived proficiency, and multilingualism in the under-explored English as a Foreign Language…
Abstract
The present study focuses on the link between foreign language anxiety (FLA), self-perceived proficiency, and multilingualism in the under-explored English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context of Saudi Arabia. Ninety-six Arabic undergraduate college-level EFL students (56 males, 40 females) answered the Arabic version of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS – Horwitz, Horwitz, & Cope, 1986). The analyses revealed that Saudi multilinguals suffered from low to moderate levels of FLA with female participants experiencing more anxiety than their male counterparts. Multiple regression analyses revealed that gender and self-perceived proficiency explained over a quarter of variance in FLA. Furthermore, the study did not find any role of experience abroad in predicting FLA.
Martina Dickson, Melissa McMinn and Hanadi Kadbey
Research has shown that pre-service and in-service teachers who exhibit science anxiety are less likely to teach it effectively. It is therefore critical to gauge the science…
Abstract
Research has shown that pre-service and in-service teachers who exhibit science anxiety are less likely to teach it effectively. It is therefore critical to gauge the science anxiety levels of student teachers early while there are still possibilities, perhaps, to prevent serious issues occurring later on as a result. This study takes place in the United Arab Emirates, where Emirati science teachers are already in the vast minority. Since this is the case and teacher attrition rates are high, it is important to offer as much support to student teachers as possible. We surveyed 113 student elementary school teachers to explore their science anxiety levels. Whilst some studies have shown that science anxiety can decrease as students take science content courses, thereby theoretically gaining confidence in science knowledge, this effect was not observed in our study except for a few aspects and only in those who had studied in the ‘science track’ at school. We also found that students educated in arts tracks in high schools had significantly higher science anxiety levels compared with those who followed science tracks.
و ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعم نأ ثوحبلا ترهظأ دق نورهظي نيذلا و ةمدخلا يف نيملعملا نم ً اقلق مولعلا ةدام مه ميلعتل ًﻻامتحإ لقأ قلقلا تايوتسم سايق ةيمهﻷا نمف كلذلو .ةيلاعفب مولعلا ةدام نم مولعلا ةدام ﻻ نيح يف ركبم تقو يف ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعمل ي مبر لامتحا كانه لاز ةيبرعلا تارامﻹا ةلود يف ةساردلا هذه يرجتو .كلذل ةجيتن قحﻻ تقو يف لكاشم يأ ثودح عنمل ا ميدقت مهملا نمف ،ةعفترم نيملعملا صقانت تﻻدعمو لاحلا وه اذه نأ امبو .ةيلقأ مه نييتارامﻹا مولعلا يملعم ثيح ،ةدحتملا مب انمق .ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعمل معدلا نم نكمم ردق ربكأ ﺢس 113 نم مهقلق تايوتسم فاشكتسﻻ ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعم نم مولعلا ةدام قلقلا نأ تاساردلا ضعب ترهظأ نيح يف . نم مولعلا ةدام ضفخني نأ نكمي ىوتحملا تاقاسم ةبلطلاا لامكتسا عم ُي مل ،ةيملعلا ةفرعملا يف ةقثلا باستكا يلاتلابو ،يملعلا َحﻼ ساب انتسارد يف ريثأتلا اذه ظ نيذلا كئلوﻷ طقفو بناوجلا ضعب ءانثت يف ةيبدﻷا و ةينفلا تاراسملا اوذختا نيذلا ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعم نأ اضيأ اندجوو .ةسردملا يف ةيملعلا تاراسملا اوذختا قلقلا تايوتسم مهيدل ناك ةيوناثلا سرادملا نم مولعلا ةدام .ةيملعلا تاراسملا اوعبتا نيذلا كئلوأ نم ريثكب ىلعأ
Philip Kwaku Kankam and Samuel Osarfo Boateng
The anxiety that usually comes with a speaking performance is said to be both personal and situational. Researchers have over the years sought to understand how the combined…
Abstract
Purpose
The anxiety that usually comes with a speaking performance is said to be both personal and situational. Researchers have over the years sought to understand how the combined effects of personal traits of an individual and situational conditions such as the nature of the speaking environment, the size of the audience and negative perception over the outcome of a speech, affects a person’s ability to effectively communicate. While studies on speech-related anxiety in the academic environment is not new (Basic, 2011; Behnke et al., 2006), the attention of many of these studies has focused on students rather than lectures/instructors. While this study is not the first to focus on the role of lecturers in reducing the incidence of speech anxiety, the purpose of this paper is to stress the role of lecturers in reducing speech-related anxieties and its attendant effects on the academic and professional performances of students. It was found out that most speech-related anxiety is largely situational, rather than personal. The study found that out of fear of being negatively evaluated, students became highly apprehensive when asked to perform a speech-related task in the classroom. This, the study found, can potentially have adverse effects on the academic and professional performance of students. Most importantly, the study established the significant role of lecturers in managing a friendly and pleasant environment that facilitate speaking and positive learning outcomes. As Varron (2011) asserts: “the teacher is the one that facilitates the whole process of leaning and create favorable environment, where there is a smooth flow of communication.”
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 40 respondents from the School of Communications of the African University College of Communications were sampled for the study. The selection of only communication students was premised on the study’s quest to unravel the irony inherent in the fact that those communication students that are by their training required to be voluble, tend to be apprehensive, especially under the classroom situation. Doing this was to inevitably help to find out whether or not there is a relationship between an individual’s career choice and the behavioral tendencies such a person is likely to exhibit. Again, the fact that communication students are more competent to speak on issues regarding any subject on communication makes them an ideal choice for this study. A stratified probability sampling method was used to group the sample into various layers (levels). The study using stratified sampling grouped the various respondents into their various levels (strata) and sampled ten respondents from each level. This was to help the study ascertain whether or not any relationship existed between a student’s level and the level of their speaking apprehension. A questionnaire, close and open ended, was employed as the study’s principal instrument for data. Each respondent was given a questionnaire each to respond to. A “descriptive statistical measure was used to describe the characteristics of the sample, whereupon conclusions were generalized for the entire study population.” In addition, graphs, charts, and frequency tabulation made from the coded data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, after which the corresponding interpretation was assigned. To ensure accuracy, data were coded, entered, and cleaned. Tables and figures from the SPSS helped in making the results of the study easier to interpret and understandable.
Findings
The outcome of the administered questionnaire indicated that negative evaluation was caused by lack of adequate preparation, inferiority complex, fear of derision and needless comparisons among students. In respect of how fear of derision causes anxiety, it was found that fear of derision stifles students’ desire to be heard, makes students timid and prevents class participation. On the issue of why some student were deficient in the use of English language, it was found that poor reading habits, overuse of vernacular, obsession with the use of pidgin and apprehension following from the fear of making mistakes were the major causes.
Originality/value
The authors consider the proposed study original both in conceptualisation and design. The main question being interrogated stems from identified gaps in the literature and the study intends to fill these knowledge gaps. The study’s originality stems from the fact that there is paucity of information on the subject of study in the context of Ghana.
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Clive Fletcher and Claire Kerslake
Describes the extent to which attending an assessment centre (AC)generates anxiety amongst candidates, and its effects on them.Questionnaires were administered to 70 bank staff…
Abstract
Describes the extent to which attending an assessment centre (AC) generates anxiety amongst candidates, and its effects on them. Questionnaires were administered to 70 bank staff before and after attending ACs. Results show candidates experienced rather high levels of anxiety, and that higher anxiety level was associated with lower ratings given by assessors, though the candidates′ post‐AC self‐perceptions of ability tended to be higher for those with higher anxiety. The nature of the anxiety reported seemed to be situation‐specific and to be akin to test anxiety and evaluation apprehension. Discusses findings in terms of implications for the quality of the assessments made and the way in which ACs should be run to minimize anxiety effects.
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This research aimed to identify the levels of stress students experience, the different sources that generate them and the relationship between the stress levels and the students'…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aimed to identify the levels of stress students experience, the different sources that generate them and the relationship between the stress levels and the students' gender.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-methods design was used, focusing on the quantitative stage. The qualitative section was designed to obtain supporting information. 86 Ecuadorian undergraduate polytechnic students enrolled in an English course took part in this study. Quantitative data are obtained using the Telecollaborative Foreign Language Anxiety Scale (T-FLAS), while online interviews supply insight from students.
Findings
The present research identified four types of anxiety related to emergency remote teaching (ERT). Communication anxiety is one of them that has also been found in regular foreign language classes (Horowitz et al., 1986). However, the actual contribution is regarding the other three sources of ERT-related anxiety: Online interaction anxiety, ERT anxiety and technology anxiety. Also, it was identified that girls experience higher anixety levels than men do.
Research limitations/implications
A limitation of this study is the T-FLAS, a tool that has not been widely used. However, as Fondo and Jacobetty (2020) reported, other papers have made use of this novel tool. Another limitation to this research is the number of participants; although it is not very small, it might not be considered large enough for generalization purposes. Also, this study was limited by its scope, which only looked at the relationship between the students' genders and anxiety levels.
Practical implications
First, this researcher recommends that language departments use the survey at the beginning of each semester. That way, there will be a clear idea of the sources of anxiety students are experiencing, and measures can be taken to lower those anxiety-causing factors. Also, this study shows students experiencing a high level of anxiety when they are required to interact with their peers using a foreign language. Thus, supplying practice through guided discussions and role-plays should allow learners to reduce their anxiety levels and perform better during these kinds of exchanges in the short term.
Social implications
Another issue reported by this study is the feelings of uneasiness when turning cameras on to do an exercise or taking quizzes and exams, as learners feel like their classmates and teachers are invading their homes. It is recommended that the Student Welfare Department of the educational institutions deal with this and other issues. They can design intervention, relaxation and yoga programs for students who are feeling anxious to help them lower those feeling and allow them to have better interactions in class during these times of remote learning.
Originality/value
This paper's originality lies in the fact that it looks at anxiety from the point of view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the move it had to be made to the digital realm. It identifies three factors that are new and related 100% to emergency remote teaching–learning. It is also valuable as it is looking at data emerging for a South American country, as data are scarce from this continent and especially from Ecuador.
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