Self-perception of fear in learning in high school students from a school in Santiago, Chile

Abstract

The aim of this research was to compare the self-perception of fear as a control mechanism in high school students according to sociodemographic variables, such as sex, year of high school and between the subjects of Mathematics and Physical Education. The APME-16 scale was applied in a school in Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. The participants are students from first to fourth year of high school, where the minimum age was 14 years and the maximum 19 years, with a mean of 16.3±1.3 years. The results show important differences perceived by the students in relation to the teachers of Physical Education and Mathematics, with greater fear, anxiety, embarrassment and school humiliation to the teachers of the latter. On the contrary, in the case of the other subject of study, students have a more positive perception of Physical Education teachers and the classroom environment they generate.

Finally, it is concluded that there are significant differences between both subjects, for example, according to sex, showing that men show less apprehension towards Physical Education teachers in comparison with women and between secondary school grades.