State anxiety among university students at the end of the academic semester.
Abstract
The study aimed to determine the level of state anxiety among university students at the end of the academic semester and its relationship with institutional and educational variables, as well as factors perceived as anxiety-inducing. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive-correlational approach was employed. A random probability sample of 270 students was used. The state anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI/IDARE) was administered. Results indicate a predominance of high state anxiety (55.6%), followed by moderate state anxiety (43.3%); low state anxiety was less frequent. A significant association was identified between state anxiety and the type of university. Academic studies were identified as the primary factor perceived as generating anxiety. Institutional support strategies are desirable.
References
Barbayannis, G., Bandari, M., Zheng, X., Baquerizo, H., Pecor, K. W., & Ming, X. (2022). Academic stress and mental well-being in college students: Correlations, affected groups, and COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 886344. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.886344
Cassady, J. C., Tan, S. H., Robiullah, A., Badzovski, I., & Janiuk, J. (2025). Methods employed in studies identifying “levels” of test anxiety in university students: A systematic review. Behavioral Sciences, 15(3), 331. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15030331
Castellote-Caballero, Y., Carcelén-Fraile, M. D. C., Aibar-Almazán, A., Rivas-Campo, Y., & González-Martín, A. M. (2024). Yoga as a therapeutic approach to mental health in university students: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1406937. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1406937
Chávez-Carrera, W., & Bueno-Alva, K. (2024). Propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario de ansiedad estado–rasgo en estudiantes universitarios de Lima. Psicología UNEMI, 8(15), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.29076/issn.2602-8379vol8iss15.2024pp10-21p
Idoiaga-Mondragon, N., Gaztañaga, M., Yarritu, I., & Pascual-Sagastizabal, E. (2025). Academic anxiety in Spanish higher education: A systematic review. Behavioral Sciences, 15(2), 192. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020192
Liu, L., Xin, X., Wang, H., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Effectiveness of physical exercise on mental health among university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1612408. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1612408
Pérez-Jorge, D., Boutaba-Alehyan, M., González-Contreras, A. I., & Pérez-Pérez, I. (2025). Examining the effects of academic stress on student well-being in higher education. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 449. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04698-y
Pozos-Radillo, B. E., Preciado-Serrano, M. L., Plascencia-Campos, A. R., Aguilera Velasco, M. de los Á., & Acosta Fernández, M. (2021). Ansiedad rasgo-estado, estrés académico y estilos de afrontamiento en estudiantes de enfermería en México. Index de Enfermería, 30(1–2), 134–138. https://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?pid=S1132-12962021000100029&script=sci_arttext
Quevedo-Bayona, I., Escolar-Llamazares, M.-C., Martínez-Martín, M.-Á., & Adell Carrasco, F. L. (2025). Descriptive study on state and trait anxiety levels in university students and their potential influencing factors. Societies, 15(10), 287. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15100287
Spielberger, C. D., & Díaz-Guerrero, R. (1975). IDARE: Inventario de ansiedad: rasgo-estado. Manual e instructivo. El Manual Moderno.
Thomas, C. L., & Cassady, J. C. (2021). Validation of the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in a university sample. SAGE Open, 11(3), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211031900
Valente, G., Diotaiuti, P., Corrado, S., Tosti, B., Zanon, A., & Mancone, S. (2025). Validity and measurement invariance of abbreviated scales of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y) in a population of Italian young adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1443375. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1443375
