Fear of failure: implications for military health care specialist student training.
During scholastic or physical performance testing, individuals who fear failure tend to focus on their fears instead of the task and often perform poorly. This study examined the relationship between fear-of-failure (FoF) and performance among 200~students (male=140, female =60) attending Health Care Specialist Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Ft. Sam Houston. Performance measures included grade point average, pass/fail status, Army Physical Fitness Test scores, and number of musculoskeletal injuries. Pearson Product Moment Correlations revealed that Soldiers who scored higher on a FoF scale also had higher final grades (r=0.16, p=0.02, r<formula>;{2}</formula>=0.026). No significant correlations were found between FoF and other performance measures. While the variation in GPA accounted for by FoF was small (2.6%), this finding demonstrates a positive relationship that differs from previous studies. This finding may be explained by the concepts of failure avoidance and success orientation (self confidence and motivation), as well as the unique military setting. Suggestions for designing military educational interventions during AIT and throughout one's military career are offered.
Rice
Valerie J
VJ
Army Research Laboratory, Human Research and Engineering Directorate, Army Medical Department Center and School Field Element, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, USA. Valerie.Rice@amedd.army.mil
Vu
Tan
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Butler
Jenny
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Marra
Diane
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Merullo
Donna
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Banderet
Louis
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult