The relationship between anxiety and personality traits in university students

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between the level of anxiety of students at a public state university and personality factors, measured based on five factors according to the “Big Five Inventory” questionnaire. It is important to note that a deep understanding of the impacts of anxiety, especially in academic contexts, is essential for the development of effective intervention and support strategies, aiming to mitigate the negative effects on students’ mental health and academic performance. To achieve the proposed objective, primary data collected from 451 students at the institution were used. As a methodological procedure, descriptive data analysis and the chi-square test were used. The results reveal a significant association between personality traits and anxiety. Students with high levels of neuroticism showed a greater propensity for anxiety, emphasizing the importance of interventions that increase emotional resilience. In addition, introversion was associated with higher levels of anxiety, suggesting the need for more inclusive social environments. Agreeableness was also impacted by anxiety, indicating that interventions that promote adaptive social behaviors may improve students' emotional well-being.