INFLUENCE OF SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND FEAR OF FAILURE ON LIFE SUCCESS ANXIETY AMONG FINAL YEAR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN EKITI STATE, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between sense of responsibility, fear of failure, and gender on life success anxiety among final-year undergraduate students in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The survey research design was employed, and a stratified sample of 300 students were selected from four tertiary institutions in Ekiti State which were Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State University, Afe Babalola University, and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology. The instruments employed were sense of responsibility (Responsibility Attitude Scale), fear of failure (Short Form of the Future Anxiety Scale). The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test and regression analyses. Findings showed that sense of responsibility significantly predicted life success anxiety (β = .49, R² = .24, p < .05), while fear of failure also significantly influenced life success anxiety (β = .46, R² = .21, p < .05). Also, gender differences were observed, with male students reporting higher life success anxiety than females (t = 2.24, p < .05). Furthermore, sense of responsibility and fear of failure jointly explained 28% of the variance in life success anxiety (R² = .28, F = 57.24, p < .05), with each variable showing independent significant effects. The sense of responsibility and fear of failure are important psychological factors associated with life success anxiety among the students, while other factors also contribute. Based on the findings obtained, it was recommended that universities and policymakers should incorporate mental health-informed career guidance, resilience, and psycho-educational interventions into student support services, especially on final-year groups of students.