Date of Submission

12-6-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Advisor

Jeffrey S. Debies-Carl, Ph.D.

Keywords

Anxiety, Undergraduates, Penn State Worry Questionnaire

MeSH

Anxiety Disorders

LCSH

Anxiety disorders, Undergraduates

Abstract

Demographic factors associated with anxiety have been studied extensively and are often characterized by interconnected relationships. These associations between variables provide insight into the predictive ability of anxiety in undergraduate populations. However, few studies if any have investigated the relationships between class level, sex, honors status, and undergraduate specialization as predictors of anxiety among an undergraduate American university sample. The results of this study provide key insight into the psychopathological development of undergraduate students and anxiety levels as it pertains to academic and demographic variables. By using a multiple linear regression analysis, demographic variables of American undergraduate students are compared to Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) scores. Participants have been selected at a medium sized university through the usage of emails containing a survey questionnaire. Once completed, the participant's responses to class level and sex are compared to PSWQ scores, allowing associations to be quantified. Findings suggest that female students experience higher levels of anxiety symptoms; class rank, major, and honors status are not significant predictors of symptom presentation in the sample.

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