RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANXIETY DISORDERS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' IN NASARAWA WEST SENATORIAL ZONE, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the relationship between anxiety disorders and academic achievement in mathematics among senior secondary school students' in Nasarawa State. The study adopted correlational survey research design. The sample for the study consisted of 361 students randomly selected from two randomly selected secondary schools in each of the five local government areas that make up of West Senatorial Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Two research instruments were used by the researchers to collect data for the study. The Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire(ADQ) constructed by the researchers and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). Three hypotheses were postulated to guide the study. Data collected were analyzed with Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistical tool and the results held significant at 0.05 alpha level. The findings revealed, that anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety> disorders had significant relationship with students' academic achievement in mathematics. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that teachers should employ different strategies that would reduce anxiety disorder toward students' academic achievement in mathematics. Students-centered techniques such as frequent testing and assignments should be given to reduce students test anxiety in mathematics.