The Psychological Impact of Atychiphobia on Learning: A Study of Public Secondary School Students in Lagos, Nigeria

This study investigated the psychological impact of atychiphobia (fear of failure) on learning among public secondary school students in Lagos State, Nigeria, using a descriptive survey research design. A total of 300 students from SS1 to SS3 were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique from five public secondary schools in Education District IV. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising demographic details and an academic performance and engagement scale assessing self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement on a 4-point Likert scale. The instrument demonstrated acceptable reliability with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.70 and was validated by experts. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a moderate negative relationship between atychiphobia and academic performance (r = -0.45, p < 0.001), indicating that higher fear of failure correlates with lower academic performance. Regression analysis showed that atychiphobia significantly predicts students’ self-efficacy (R² = 0.21), motivation (R² = 0.19), and engagement (R² = 0.15), with all p-values below 0.05. The study concluded that atychiphobia (fear of failure) significantly affects students’ academic performance, self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement in public secondary schools in Lagos State. It recommends that schools should establish counselling and psychological intervention programmes to help students manage atychiphobia.