Family environment, discrepancies between perceived actual and desirable environment, and children's test and trait anxiety

Abstract

This study examined relationships between family environment, discrepancies between the 'actual' and the 'desirable' environment, and children's test and trait anxiety. Three dimensions of family environment were studied: communication, encouragement of personal growth, and system maintenance. Discrepancies were defined as the difference between each family member's conceptions of the environment as is ('actual') and how they would most like it to be ('desirable'). The sample consisted of 456 respondents - 152 sixth graders (80 boys and 72 girls) and their parents - who completed the Family Environment Scale (FES), the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), and the Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (TAIC). The main findings were that children's levels of anxiety were negatively correlated with the three dimensions of family environment and positively correlated with discrepancy between 'actual' and 'desirable' environment. The importance of school counsellors addressing family issues when treating test-anxious children is discussed.