  We have calculated the axial-vector form factors of the low lying octet
baryons ($N$, $\Sigma$, $\Xi$ and $\Lambda$) in the chiral constituent quark
model ($\chi$CQM). In particular, we have studied the implications of chiral
symmetry breaking and SU(3) symmetry breaking for the singlet ($g^0_{A}$) and
non-singlet ($g^3_{A}$ and $g^8_{A}$) axial-vector coupling constants expressed
as combinations of the spin polarizations at zero momentum transfer. The
conventional dipole form of parametrization has been used to analyse the $Q^2$
dependence of the axial-vector form factors ($G^0_{A}(Q^2)$, $G^3_{A}(Q^2)$ and
$G^8_{A}(Q^2)$). The total strange singlet and non-singlet contents
($G_s^0(Q^2)$, $G_s^3(Q^2)$ and $G_s^8(Q^2)$) of the nucleon determining the
strange quark contribution to the nucleon spin ($\Delta s$) have also been
discussed.
