Fear of Failure and the Academic Performance of Students from Low-Income Families
Abstract
Among families in Sub-Sahara Africa where poverty is high, although academic success does not guarantee employment, it is seen as the only path to climbing up a socioeconomic ladder. As a result, there has been an academic ascension among students from low-income families. There is an assumption that parental demand, socioeconomic status and fear of failure are fueling the academic ascension among students from low-income families. This study used data from undergraduate students in Ghana to investigate the relationship between parental demand, academic performance, socioeconomic status and fear of failure among students from low-income families. The result revealed that fear of failure as a result of high parental expectation, perceptions of an uncertain socioeconomic future, and the avoidance of experiencing shame are challenging students from low-income families to improve their academic performance. It further revealed a perception that socioeconomic triumph is tied to educational triumph of students from low-income families.