Descriptive Study on State and Trait Anxiety Levels in University Students and Their Potential Influencing Factors

Itziar Quevedo-Bayona, María-Camino Escolar-Llamazares (), María-Ángeles Martínez-Martín and Francisco Luis Adell Carrasco
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Itziar Quevedo-Bayona: Health Sciences Faculty, Burgos University, 09001 Burgos, Spain
María-Camino Escolar-Llamazares: Health Sciences Faculty, Burgos University, 09001 Burgos, Spain
María-Ángeles Martínez-Martín: Health Sciences Faculty, Burgos University, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Francisco Luis Adell Carrasco: Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Isabel I, 09003 Burgos, Spain

Societies, 2025, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: While anxiety can be adaptive at moderate levels, it may also develop into a clinical disorder when it becomes excessively intense. In the university academic environment, such disorders not only affect the students’ academic performance but also their overall well-being. This study aims to analyze anxiety levels among students at the University of Burgos and identify factors that may influence the manifestation of anxiety. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was administrated digitally to 302 students (74 men, 228 women) from the University of Burgos via Microsoft Forms, following a cross-sectional quantitative research design. The study revealed high levels of both state and trait anxiety among the student sample. While trait anxiety levels were similar between genders, women tended to report higher state anxiety. Students in technical fields and those fully dedicated to their studies exhibited higher trait anxiety. Additionally, age, academic discipline, and living away from one’s hometown significantly predicted higher state anxiety. Age and exclusive academic dedication also predicted higher trait anxiety. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing anxiety differences across student subgroups and providing targeted support during this critical developmental period.

Keywords: state anxiety; trait anxiety; university students; influencing factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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