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

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.