School Factors Causing Vietnamese Adolescents’ Anxiety in Secondary Schools

Abstract

Anxiety is regarded as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure, and it is a common phenomenon for people in general and adolescents in particular. The study aimed to determine the factors that cause anxiety among adolescents in Vietnam under the influence of gender and grade. A group of 749 Vietnamese secondary school students participated in the survey. Results showed that scores and exams caused the most anxiety for participants. Factors related to scores and exams created more anxiety for females than males. Factors related to communicating with friends, teachers, school/classroom facilities, and school safety caused more anxiety for students in grades 6, 7, and 8 than those in grade 9. Our study suggests that prevention and intervention programs should be promoted to minimize anxiety for adolescents from the pressure of scores, exams, and the impact of gender and grade.