Bi-directional Relationship between T-Anxiety and Self Esteem: An Empirical Research with Indian College Students

Abstract

College life is a period with major transitions in various realms, which can be both taken up as challenges or threats. Self esteem levels of the person also help or hinder the management of such challenges. Present research work aimed to find out the relationship between levels of Trait anxiety and Self esteem of Indian college students. Also, to find out if there exists a gender difference in their Trait Anxiety levels. A relationship between reductions in self esteem and resultant S-Anxiety reactions was also studied. 150 college students incorporating 77 females and 73 males participated in the study from various educational institutes of India.  A mixed methodology was adopted: Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory and Coopersmith self esteem inventory were administered to assess levels of Trait anxiety and Self esteem respectively; Critical incident technique was employed with 40% of the sample to analyse the S-Anxiety alleviations faced during life episodes reducing a person's self esteem. The findings revealed that there is a strong bi-directional relationship between T-Anxiety and Self esteem of both male and female college students. Moreover, no significant gender difference is there in levels of T-Anxiety. It was also revealed that cognitive reactions/symptoms of S-Anxiety such as Reduction in confidence, nervousness and suicidal thoughts are most common when students go through life episodes reducing their self esteem. Based on the bi-directional relationship found in the present research, an improvement in one would automatically bring an improvement in other for Indian college students.