The relationship between anxiety and academic performance in 15-year-old Ecuadorian students

Abstract

Anxiety is a state of mind of intense worry that can affect students’ performance both positively and negatively. Internationally, recent studies show high percentages of students diagnosed with anxiety and depression. This paper seeks to quantitatively analyze how anxiety is related to academic performance in Ecuadorian students. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model with school fixed effects estimates an educational production function. The results confirm that, up to certain levels of anxiety, students' scores improve. However, once anxiety levels are elevated -a threshold that is higher for male students- scores are negatively affected. These findings are relevant for two reasons. First, during adolescence, experiences and interpersonal relationships impact personality construction and influence the development of cognitive, non-cognitive and emotional skills. Second, given the current post-pandemic situation, in which anxiety is a frequent scenario. This research concludes that it is necessary to reflect on the importance of rethinking pedagogical processes in schools and to analyze strategies to introduce mental health in the school curriculum.