Affiliations: Army Research Laboratory, Human Research and
Engineering Directorate, Army Medical Department Center and School Field
Element, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, USA | Karta Technologies | Gerson Lehrman Group | US Army Research Institute of Environmental
Medicine
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Valerie J. Berg Rice, Army Research
Laboratory, Human Research & Engineering Directorate, Army Medical
Department Center & School Field Element, 1750 Greely Road, STE 219, Ft.
Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA. Tel.: +1 210 221 2635; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: 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^{2}=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.
