EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON ANXIETY IN TEENAGERS

Abstract

Abstract. The paper looks at theoretical aspects of anxiety symptoms and represents the results of empirical research on the level of anxiety among teenage pupils. It determines the features of anxiety impact on a person’s self-esteem, their emotions and social behavior. It highlights that an anxious teenager is distinguished by the intensity of feelings and immediate emergence of agitation, lower threshold of sensitivity to changes and the feeling of safety which easily disappears. The study stresses that anxiety is a problem which teenagers cannot overcome on their own therefore they need support of adults.

The purpose of the paper is to compare the level of anxiety in teenagers and determine the correlation of anxiety and low self-esteem in different age groups.

The research uses psychodiagnostic methods, measuring a general level of anxiety (the questionnaire of O. Kondash “The Scale of Anxiety”), it determines reactive and personal anxiety (the method of Ch. Spilberg – Yu. Khanin) and examines the level of self-esteem by the questionnaire of H. N. Kazantseva.

Results. The study looks at the impact of increased anxiety on socialization, self-esteem, education and personal development of teenagers. It analyzes the scientific papers of prominent Ukrainian and foreign scholars. The comparison of the data obtained allowed establishing that the percentage of the pupils of 12-13 years old is more anxious when compared to the teenagers of 15-16 years old. Personal anxiety in both groups dominates over reactive anxiety. A similar tendency was identified when determining self-esteem, in particular, in the group of pupils of 12-13 years old there is a higher percentage of pupils with low self-esteem, than in the group of pupils of 15-16 years old.

Conclusions. the study maintains that the pupils with a high index of general, personal anxiety and with a low level of self-esteem need psychological correction. It outlines that anxiety can become a consequence of self-esteem conflict because of a contradiction between diffidence and a high level of aspirations. The research stresses that taking into account the data obtained it is necessary to develop a psychocorrection program to reduce the manifestations of anxiety, to correct self-esteem and resolve internal conflicts, considering the requirements and principles of correction work.