Investigation of pre-school teacher candidates' state-trait anxiety levels according to some variables

The first aim of this study was to obtain accurate and up-to-date information about the factors influencing anxiety levels of preschool teacher candidates, which play decisive and a dominant role in their daily life. This study also aimed to test the relationship between state-trait anxiety levels according to various variables, and determine the demographic factors associated with the level of state and trait anxiety. In the present quantitative study the correlational survey model was used to determine correlations between the variables. The study group of this research was made up of 367 preschool teacher candidates at the Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey. The detailed results of the survey showed that about 82.5% of the participants (n=367) are very scared of not getting a job in the future or fear unemployment. The results revealed that 4.2% of preschool teacher candidates are optimist about the future and they do not afraid of being unemployed. 74.8% of the participants stated that they were highly anxious about not to be appointed to teachership. 95.4% of preschool teacher candidates have pointed out that they became certain amount of anxious (74.5% of the participants experience intense anxiety) over failure in the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS). Only 4.6% of the participants report that they had no concerns about failing the KPSS exam. In this research, which the relationship between pre-service teachers' state anxiety and trait anxiety levels and demographic variables also examined, it was seen that the state anxiety ( =42,56) and trait anxiety ( =42,56) levels of pre-service teachers are at moderate level. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship (r=.72,p=.000. Determination coefficient: (r^2) 52%) between state and trait anxiety levels of pre-service teachers. Our tests indicated that the level of state anxiety increased, trait anxiety level also increased. Based on the demographic characteristics of the pre-service teachers, it was determined that the level of state anxiety differed significantly according to the variable of the education level of the mothers and class level of students. On the other hand, state and trait anxiety levels differ according to the variable of family income; it was concluded that state and trait anxiety levels did not differ according to age, the education level of the fathers and number of siblings.