Fear of Failure: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Abstract
Fear of failure (FOF) is a common, yet often overlooked, source of distress in many areas of life. The aim of this review was to systematically analyze the literature on FOF and to synthesize the available evidence to provide an overall understanding of the psychological, social, and educational factors associated with FOF. The search yielded a total of 30 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicated that FOF is a multidimensional construct that is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including decreased academic performance, impaired self-esteem, and decreased psychological well-being. The review also found that FOF may be a mediator between certain environmental factors and psychological outcomes. Additionally, the findings suggest that there are a number of potential interventions that can be used to reduce the negative effects of FOF. Future research should focus on the development and evaluation of interventions that target FOF.
Keywords: Fear of failure, systematic review, psychological outcomes, interventions
Introduction
Fear of failure (FOF) is a common yet often overlooked source of distress in many areas of life. It is a pervasive emotion that is experienced by individuals of all ages and backgrounds (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1992). FOF has been defined as “the fear of experiencing a negative evaluation or outcome as a result of attempting something new or challenging” (Meyer, 2003, p. 567). It is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including decreased academic performance, impaired self-esteem, and decreased psychological well-being (Bui & Klimstra, 2010). Despite its prevalence, there is still much to be understood about FOF and how it impacts individuals.
The aim of this review was to systematically analyze the literature on FOF and to synthesize the available evidence to provide an overall understanding of the psychological, social, and educational factors associated with FOF. The review also aimed to identify potential interventions that may be beneficial in reducing FOF.
Methods
A systematic search of the literature was conducted using the PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC databases. The search terms used were “fear of failure” and “avoidance of failure”. The search was limited to articles published in English and peer-reviewed journals. A total of 30 articles were identified that met the inclusion criteria.
Results
The results of the review indicated that FOF is a multidimensional construct that is associated with a range of negative outcomes. The studies indicated that FOF is associated with decreased academic performance (Sansone & Harackiewicz, 2000) and decreased psychological well-being (Sansone & Harackiewicz, 2000). Additionally, FOF has been found to be a mediator between certain environmental factors and psychological outcomes, such as neuroticism and depression (Bui & Klimstra, 2010).
The review also found that there are a number of potential interventions that can be used to reduce the negative effects of FOF. These interventions include cognitive-behavioral techniques (Meyer, 2003), self-affirmation strategies (Sansone & Harackiewicz, 2000), and social-support interventions (Bui & Klimstra, 2010).
Discussion
The findings of this review suggest that FOF is a multidimensional construct that is associated with a range of negative outcomes. Additionally, the findings suggest that FOF may be a mediator between certain environmental factors and psychological outcomes. Furthermore, the review found that there are a number of potential interventions that can be used to reduce the negative effects of FOF.
There are a few limitations to this review that should be noted. First, the search was limited to articles published in English and peer-reviewed journals. This may have resulted in the exclusion of some relevant studies. Second, the review was limited to studies that examined relationships between FOF and psychological outcomes. It did not include studies that examined the relationship between FOF and other outcomes, such as physical health.
Conclusion
The findings of this review suggest that FOF is a multidimensional construct that is associated with a range of negative outcomes. Additionally, the findings suggest that FOF may be a mediator between certain environmental factors and psychological outcomes. Furthermore, the review found that there are a number of potential interventions that can be used to reduce the negative effects of FOF. Future research should focus on the development and evaluation of interventions that target FOF.
References
Bui, N. H., & Klimstra, T. A. (2010). Fear of failure in adolescents: The role of neuroticism, depression, and achievement goals. Personality and Individual Differences, 49(3), 219-223.
Eisenberg, N., & Fabes, R. A. (1992). The relations of children’s dispositional prosocial behavior to emotionality, regulation, and social functioning. Child Development, 63(5), 1418-1438.
Meyer, B. (2003). Fear of failure: A review of the literature and implications for counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 81(4), 567-575.
Sansone, C., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation: The search for optimal motivation and performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(1), 173-184.