ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND STRESS : A PERSON-ENVIRONMENT FIT""

Abstract

The present paper attempted to examine the complex relationship existing between environmental, situational and personality variables. Specifically, locus of control, control beliefs and learning environment were studied with reference to their influence on an individual's adaptation to academic failure. The concept of secondary control postulated by Rothbaum, Weisz and Snyder (1982) was explored with regard to its value as a moderator of academic stress and as an alternative form of control. Subjects were 337 final year Economics students (132 males and 205 females), aged between 16 and 20, from two junior colleges in Singapore. Correlational analysis and stepwise multiple regression were conducted. Results obtained showed that both internal locus of control and secondary control were significant predictors of lower test anxiety. Conceptual and practical implications of the findings were discussed with reference to an individual's academic performance and level of test anxiety experienced.