Sources of differential stress response associated with psychometrically designated anxiety proneness.

Examined different aspects of the expression of anxiety proneness related to dimensions of ego threat and novelty ambiguity. In an ego-threatening situation, 96 male undergraduates (rated on the Inventory of General Trait Anxiousness) were presented with abstract-reasoning items with scaled stress-relevant properties. In the 1st study, comparisons focused on objective outcomes as well as appraised outcome records and appraised task effort necessary for adequate performance. In the 2nd study, comparisons emphasized direct physiological and subjective reactions to the stressing situational properties. The results indicate that anxiety proneness is associated with variation in direct reactions to the stressing properties but not with variation in the configuration of the objective or appraised properties themselves. The implications for current concepts on the expression of anxiety proneness and for its psychometric prediction are discussed. Also differential sensitivities of alternative indices of stress reaction to variation in anxiety proneness are considered in light of earlier studies. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trait versus state anxiety, authoritarianism and ego threat versus physical threat.

Examined the effects of individual differences (authoritarianism, trait anxiety) and situational factors (ego and physical threat) on state anxiety (A-state). 60 male undergraduates were given Kohn's Authoritarianism-Rebellion Scale, the WAIS Block Design subtest, Endler's S-R Inventory of Anxiousness, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. It was predicted that high and low authoritarian Ss, and high and low trait anxiety (A-trait) Ss would report different amounts of A-state arousal as a function of ego threat. Ss were divided into 2 groups of high and low authoritarians and performed a task under ego-threat (failure) or physical-threat (shock) conditions. A post hoc split of Ss' A-trait scores provided A-state data on high vs low A-trait under threat conditions. Ego threat and physical threat both produced A-state arousal. Physical threat created greater A-state arousal than ego threat for high A-trait Ss. Contrary to W. F. Hodges's 1968 findings, under physical threat high A-trait Ss reported greater A-state arousal than low A-trait Ss. C. D. Spielburger's trait-state anxiety theory is compared with N. S. Endler and J. McV. Hunt's interaction model of anxiety. (French summary) (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The interaction model of anxiety and the threat of Quebec's separation from Canada.

The interaction model of anxiety was investigated by assessing trait and state anxiety in students at a Canadian university during the Quebec referendum. The results of Study 1 confirmed that the threat of separation by Quebec from Canada was perceived as an ambiguous, uncertain situation. In Study 2, reactions to this situation were assessed by having participants complete measures of anxiety and situation perception at Time 1 (i.e., 3 hr before the event) and Time 2 (i.e., 1 week after the vote). The results provide support for the interaction model; individuals who were high in trait anxiety in ambiguous situations and appraised the referendum situation as threatening were characterized by elevated state anxiety before the uncertain outcome of the vote. The results illustrate the need to examine trait anxiety and specific appraisals of situational threat in uncertain life situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Grand illusions: Traits or interactions?

Argues that research and theory in the field of personality has been guided by 4 major models: trait psychology, psychodynamics, situationism, and interactionism. A distinction is made between models of psychological processes and measurement models, a critique of the trait model is presented, and an alternative interactional model is suggested. Empirical research and research strategies on Person * Situation interactions are provided, with special emphasis on a Person * Treatment experimental design. The role of situation factors in interactionism is also discussed, and an interaction model of anxiety is presented. It is concluded that process-oriented dynamic interaction models are preferable to static mechanistic interaction models. (French abstract) (47 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of stress and anxiety on the processing of threat stimuli.

Two experiments extended the work of C. MacLeod and A. Mathews (see record 1989-23867-001) and examined whether a cognitive bias for threat information is a function of state or trait anxiety. Color-naming and attention deployment tasks were used to assess the effects of a stress manipulation procedure on attentional responses in high and low trait anxious Ss. Ss under high stress selectively allocated processing resources toward threat stimuli, irrespective of their trait anxiety level. There was no consistent evidence of a cognitive bias associated with trait anxiety, and the effect of the stress manipulation did not apppear to be mediated by state anxiety. It was suggested that trait factors do not modify attentional biases associated with acute stress but may influence such biases when stress is prolonged. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of negative feedback, threat of shock, and level of trait anxiety on the arousal of two components of anxiety.

Investigated the effects of threat of failure and threat of shock on the state anxiety reactions of 175 male undergraduates differing in level of trait anxiety. Consistent with the worry-emotionality distinction, worry scores were aroused only in the failure-threat situation, while emotionality scores tended to be elevated only in the shock-threat condition. Contrary to predictions derived from Spielberger's 1966 State-Trait anxiety theory, A-state scores were higher for high A-trait Ss than for low A-trait Ss in all groups. The prediction of a relationship between A-trait and worry scores was not supported. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal evaluations following threats to self: Role of self-esteem.

In 2 studies, the authors used dyadic interactions to assess the influence of ego threat on likability as a function of self-esteem. In both studies, 2 naive participants engaged in a structured conversation; in half of the dyads, 1 participant received an ego threat prior to the interaction. In the 1st study, threatened high self-esteem participants were rated as less likable than were threatened low self-esteem participants. The 2nd study confirmed that ego threats are associated with decreased liking for those with high self-esteem and with increased liking for those with low self-esteem. A mediational analysis demonstrated that decreased liking among high self-esteem participants was due to being perceived as antagonistic. Study 2 also indicated that the findings could not be explained by trait levels of narcissism. These patterns are interpreted in terms of differential sensitivity to potential interpersonal rejection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety, locus of control, type of preparatory information, and adjustment to dental surgery.

Evaluated the effects of 2 types of preparatory information (general, specific), given prior to dental surgery, on state anxiety and adjustment in the dental situation for 63 19-74 yr old dental patients who differed in locus of control orientation and generalized level of dental anxiety. N. L. Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale, administered an average of 24 days presurgery, predicted differential elevations in state anxiety in the dental situation. This finding is discussed in terms of the need to develop situation-specific trait anxiety measures for physical threat situations. Internal Ss viewing the specific information tape showed better adjustment during surgery than internals who viewed the general tape. The converse was true of external Ss, who responded more favorably to the general information tape. Findings are discussed in terms of the locus of control construct and are viewed as supporting the need for the development of differential treatment strategies for homogeneous patient groups. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The longitudinal structure of general and specific anxiety dimensions in children: Testing a latent trait–state–occasion model.

In an 8-wave, 4-year longitudinal study, 787 children (Grades 3–6) completed the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (C. R. Reynolds & B. O. Richmond, 1985), a measure of the Physiological Reactivity, Worry–Oversensitivity, and Social Alienation dimensions of anxiety. A latent variable (trait–state–occasion) model and a latent growth curve model were applied to each of the 3 anxiety dimensions and to a general anxiety factor consisting of the 3 dimensions. Although the general anxiety factor reflected a significant stable trait process, the Worry–Oversensitivity and Social Alienation dimensions reflected an autoregressive process more than a stable trait dimension. In contrast to the other 2 anxiety dimensions, Physiological Reactivity reflected a significant stable trait process, suggesting that the longitudinal structure of anxiety in children depends upon the dimension assessed. In children as early as age 9 or 10, Physiological Reactivity (more than other anxiety dimensions) manifested a stable trait component. Structural findings were consistent across gender and race; however, mean differences in gender and race emerged for general anxiety and its 3 dimensions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ego identity, social anxiety, social support, and self-concealment in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.

This study examined a model in which the relationship between social anxiety and two dimensions of ego identity (commitment and exploration) was expected to be mediated by social support and self-concealment for a sample of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (N=347). Statistically significant paths were found from social anxiety to social support and self-concealment. Statistically significant paths were also found from social support to commitment, exploration, and self-concealment. There were no significant paths from social anxiety to commitment or exploration. Structural equation analyses and bootstrap procedures revealed support for the potential mediational role of social support in the association between social anxiety and the two dimensions of ego identity as well as in the link between social anxiety and self-concealment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interactional anxiety and the evaluation of driving skills: An empirical examination of a composite predictor for state anxiety.

Examined the validity of the trait anxiety-perception (TAP) score, a composite predictor for state anxiety (A-State), in 26 Ss (aged 16–49 yrs) who were waiting to take a driving test. The TAP score was constructed from trait anxiety (A-Trait) and situation perception data derived from the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales (EMAS) and a revised version of the EMAS (P. R. King and N. S. Endler; see record 1990-06457-001). TAP scores mathematically combined the Ss' A-Trait and situation perception profiles and adjusted these with a multiplier that reflected Ss' sensitivity to situational elements, in terms of A-State inducement. Prediction of A-State based on the TAP score was superior to those provided by the social evaluation, physical danger, ambiguous, and daily routines A-Traits. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The trait anxiety-perception score: A composite predictor for state anxiety.

This article describes the development and initial evaluation of the A-Trait–Perception (ATP) score, a composite predictor for state anxiety. The ATP score is constructed from trait anxiety and situation perception data derived from the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scale by N. S. Endler et al (1989). ATP mathematically combines the individual's trait anxiety and situation perception profiles and adjusts these with a multiplier that reflects the individual's sensitivity to particular types of situational elements in terms of state anxiety inducement. The utility of the resulting composite variable as a predictor of state anxiety was examined in the context of two field studies. Results of both studies indicated that the ATP variable offered a superior prediction of state anxiety, as compared to four individual trait anxiety facets (social evaluation, physical danger, ambiguous and daily routines). The theoretical import of these results is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Medical intervention and the interaction model of anxiety.

Employed the interaction model of anxiety to assess the state anxiety of 30 females (aged 19–55 yrs) who underwent either a diagnostic dilation and curettage or a laparoscopy in hospital. Ss were administered the Present Affect Reactions Questionnaire, S-R Inventory of General Trait Anxiousness, and Perceptions of Situations Rating Form in both a high stress condition (2 hrs prior to undergoing the medical intervention) and a low stress condition (2 days after discharge). It was predicted that ambiguous trait anxiety would correlate significantly with state anxiety changes since the high stress condition was primarily ambiguous in nature. It was also predicted that significant correlations between state anxiety changes and the noncongruent facets of trait anxiety (interpersonal, physical danger, innocuous, and social evaluation) would not occur. Results indicate that the correlation between ambiguous trait anxiety and state anxiety change scores was significant and that none of the interpersonal, innocuous, and physical danger trait anxiety correlated with state anxiety changes. The unexpected significant correlation between state anxiety changes and social evaluation trait anxiety is attributed to the minimal components of social evaluation present in the high stress condition being relatively potent determinants of state anxiety for high social evaluation trait anxiety persons. (French abstract) (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Generality of the interaction model of anxiety with respect to two social evaluation field studies.

Hypothesized that Ss high in social evaluation trait anxiety (TA) would experience significantly greater changes (i.e., between stress and nonstress conditions) in TA than Ss low in social evaluation TA. It was further predicted that for the noncongruent interpersonal, physical danger, ambiguous, and innocuous TA dimensions, TA changes experienced by Ss high and low in TA would not differ significantly. 26 high school students (Exp I) and 28 24–60 yr old middle management corporate executives (Exp II) were administered the S-R Inventory of General Trait Anxiousness, the Present Affect Reactions Questionnaire, and the Perception of Situations Rating form under stressful (examination situation [Exp I] and on-the-job situation oriented toward achievement and performance [Exp II]) and nonstressful conditions. While the predicted relationships between TA, state anxiety (SA), and situation stress were confirmed, results provide only moderate support for the interaction model of anxiety because Ss did not strongly endorse the initial assumption that the stressful situations would be perceived as primarily socially evaluative. The apparent discrepancy between situation perception and SA levels of Ss high and low in social evaluation TA is discussed in terms of differential responsiveness to trait-congruent situational elements within various TA groups. (French abstract) (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vicarious anxiety: A systematic evaluation of a vicarious threat to self-esteem.

Investigated in 3 studies, Ss' state anxiety arousal in response to an in vivo vicarious threat to self-esteem. In Studies 1 and 2, a total of 70 undergraduates were exposed to a guest speaker who provided the anxiety manipulation. All Ss completed R. Hogan's empathy scale (see record 1969-12966-001), the Adult Norwicki-Strickland Internal–External Control Scale, and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. In addition, Ss in Study 2 also completed the Defense Mechanism Inventory. Inboth Studies, correlation and median split analyses indicated that high empathic and low trait anxious Ss reported elevated state anxiety in response to the vicarious threat. When Ss were matched on initial state anxiety, high empathy Ss were found to have experienced vicarious anxiety, whereas Ss low on empathy did not. In addition to replicating Study 1, Study 2 found that the Helplessness factor of locus of control was significantly negatively related to empathy, and the cognitive reappraisal styles of reversal (denial, reaction formation) and projection were related to state anxiety decreases. Study 3 with 14 undergraduates provided evidence for the absence of a confound. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-enhancing and self-defeating ego orientation: Relations with task and avoidance orientation, achievement, self-perceptions, and anxiety.

Recent research in motivation has identified 2 main goal orientations: task orientation and ego orientation. Two studies of 6th- and 8th-grade Norwegian students tested the prediction that there are different dimensions of ego orientation (self-defeating and self-enhancing), that they may be separated from other goal orientations, and that they relate differently to academic achievement, self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem, anxiety, and intrinsic motivation. Results from both studies supported the predictions. The correlation between self-defeating and self-enhancing ego orientation was small, and these constructs had different relations to other variables in the study. Self-defeating ego orientation was associated with high anxiety and was negatively related to achievement and self-perceptions. Self-enhancing ego orientation was positively related to achievement, self-perceptions, and intrinsic motivation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of role conflict and role ambiguity to job involvement measures.

Obtained measures of role conflict, role ambiguity, and various job involvement variables for 61 high-level managers. Role conflict was negatively related to the amount of reported influence and positively related to the amount of perceived threat and anxiety. Role ambiguity was negatively correlated with job satisfaction and influence, and positively related to job threat and anxiety. It is suggested that organizational level be taken into account when studying the relationship of role stress factors with job involvement measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A regression analysis of the interactional approach to anxiety.

The use of ANOVA for analyzing interactional patterns of anxiety has received several criticisms. To date, however, few researchers have adopted process-oriented regression paradigms as a research alternative. In this study, 200 college students completed the S–R Inventory of General Trait Anxiousness and rating tasks that assessed their perceptions of different types of situations as well as their predictions of stress in those situations. In keeping with the interactional model of stress and anxiety, it was predicted that ratings of situations would be best predicted by trait-anxiety scores that correspond to the situation being rated. When Ss rated 2 situations involving physical danger, the interactional predictions were upheld. For ratings of personally threatening types of situations, however, the results were less clear. Results are discussed in terms of the effects of situational type and specificity. Implications for the theoretical and empirical accuracy of the interactional model are addressed. (French abstract) (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Resistance of high-anxious subjects under ego threat to perception of figural distortion.

40 college students were selected as high and 40 as low in anxiety (IPAT Anxiety Scale). Ss judged the horizontal plane while viewing a specially designed room (Leaf Room) through aniseikonic lenses. Groups of Ss were subdivided and provided either task or threat orientation to the perceptual procedure. High-anxious in comparison with low-anxious Ss required more time to recognize the perceptual distortion produced by aniseikonic lenses, and they estimated a smaller degree of distortion. Thus high anxiety appeared to retard ability to shift from familiar to unfamiliar but veridical percepts. The effects of ego threat were less clear but seemed to relate to certain inverse reaction tendencies present among high anxious Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)