Anxiety is of importance within the field of cognition because it is often associated with adverse effects on attention, information processing, learning and memory (Eysenck, 1992, 2007). In existing literature, it has been reported that trait anxiety hinders cognitive performance (i.e., working memory capacity WMC). However, the relationship between trait anxiety and cognitive performance might be moderated by working memory capacity (WMC). For example, Owens (2014) reported that trait anxiety was negatively correlated with cognitive performance in the low WMC group and positively correlated to cognitive performance in the high WMC group. Although, past research on the working memory system has focused on the impairments that are triggered by trait anxiety, there may be an exception to these existing findings. Recently, Moriya & Sugiura (2012, 2018) reported that high trait anxiety paradoxically enhances visual-short term memory capacity (VSTMC). In this present study, we sought to identify if WMC modulates the relationship between trait anxiety and VSTM performance. Our first hypothesis stated that there would be a positive correlation between trait anxiety and VSTM capacity. Our second hypothesis stated that the correlation between trait anxiety and VSTM capacity would be modulated by WMC. In this current study, working memory, visual-short term memory and self‐report levels of trait anxiety, were evaluated. The results of the current study did not provide strong support for neither of our hypotheses. For hypothesis 1, we were not able to replicate Moriya and Sugiura’s findings; trait anxiety did not enhance VSTM performance. For hypothesis 2, VSTM performance was not influenced by the interaction term of WMC x trait anxiety; in such WMC and trait anxiety combined were unrelated to VSTM performance. Despite this work, we are still somewhat unclear whether trait anxiety enhances VSTM performance. Although, our data did not provide definitive support for enhanced VSTMC in high trait anxious individuals it did provide three unique findings. First, our results suggest that the level of WMC does in fact modulate the relationship between trait anxiety and VSTMC. Second, only the somatic component of trait anxiety was negatively correlated to VSTM performance for LWMC individuals. Third, WMC and VSTMC were significantly associated with one another. In closing, our three core findings may provide important insights towards improving future research when assessing the relationship between trait anxiety and VSTM performance.

Anxiety can influence an individual's decision-making process; however, researchers have yet to establish whether anxiety has an impact on the healthcare utilization practices of mothers of children with a mental health diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to assess whether trait anxiety, coping styles, and self-efficacy in mothers of children with a mental health diagnosis affected their healthcare utilization decisions. The transactional model of stress and coping was used to analyze the impact of children with mental health disorders on their caretakers. For this study, a quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed. The 4 survey tools, administered through SurveyMonkey.com as well as in paper form, included the Brief COPE, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAID-AD), Health Self-Efficacy Measure, and Healthcare Utilization Questionnaire. Study participants (N = 152) were mothers primarily ages 30-49 years (90.8%), Caucasian (57.9%), and high school graduates (63.2%) who were residents of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Mothers reported their children were primarily ages 3-6 years (34.2%), Caucasian (49.3%), had a mental health diagnosis, were living in the home, and were currently in mental health treatment. The outcomes of a binary logistic regression found that trait anxiety did not have a significant impact on healthcare utilization. A Sobel test of mediation indicated that coping styles and self-efficacy were not mediating variables between trait anxiety and healthcare utilization. The implications for positive social change as a result of this research may lead to the training of healthcare providers on the specific characteristics of mothers of children with a mental health diagnosis and the development of social policies concerning healthcare utilization.

[pt] Este estudo investiga o papel do hipocampo no comportamento de defesa condicionado e incondicionado examinando o efeito de lesões eletrolíticas pré-treino no hipocampo dorsal e ventral de ratos expostos a dois tipos de estímulos aversivos: estimulação elétrica da matéria cinzenta periaquedutal dorsal e choque nas patas. A lesão na parte dorsal e ventral diminuiu significativamente o comportamento defensivo condicionado. No comportamento defensivo incondicionado, a lesão ventral alterou significativamente o congelamento pré-fuga e a fuga. Os resultados sugerem um papel específico da parte dorsal e ventral do hipocampo na modulação de defesa através da utilização do modelo animal de ataque de pânico e TAG. / [en] This study investigates the role of the hippocampus in both unconditioned and conditioned defense behavior by examining the effects of pre-training electrolytic lesions to the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in male rats exposed to two types of threat stimuli: electrical stimulation of the DPAG and footshock. Our results indicate that ventral and dorsal lesions significantly attenuated conditioned defensive behavior. During unconditioned trials, ventral hippocampal lesion altered threshold needed for escape and pre-escape freezing. These results suggest a specific role of the ventral and dorsal hippocampus in modulating GAD and panic-attack like behaviors in certain animal model of defense.

<p>One major focus of anxiety research in recent years has been the identification of cognitive factors that promote increased vulnerability to anxiety. Cognitive formulations propose that anxiety is characterised by an increased tendency to attend to negatively valenced emotional information, and that this bias may play a causal role in the development and maintenance of clinical anxiety. Evidence suggests that this anxiety-linked processing bias occurs even in conditions in which the stimuli are masked in order to prevent awareness of the content (i.e., <i>preattentive bias</i>). The present thesis focused principally on the preferential processing of threat-related information that occurs outside awareness. Two different outcome measures were used to index preferential preattentive processing of threat-related information in non-clinical populations: The emotional Stroop task was used to index <i>selective attention</i> to masked presentation of threatening word stimuli, whereas skin conductance responses were used to index <i>selective autonomic responses</i> to masked presentation of threatening pictorial stimuli. The empirical studies in the present thesis showed that elevated levels of trait anxiety promote preferential preattentive processing of negatively valenced information, whereas elevated levels of social desirability (interpreted as defensiveness) generally prevent preferential preattentive processing of negatively valenced information, especially among those at higher levels of trait anxiety, irrespective of outcome measure used. Moreover, previous research has demonstrated that a person’s most common emotional reaction when encountering a stressful event is causally influenced by that person’s habitual tendency to selectively encode the most threatening aspects of all available information. Thus, preattentive bias (as measured with the emotional Stroop task) was used to predict the emotional responses (as seen on self-reported emotional distress and autonomic reactivity) following exposure to a laboratory stressor. This study showed that preattentive bias to negative information had significant effects on both self-reported and physiological measures in response to a laboratory stressor, but in diametrically opposite directions. Specifically, whereas preattentive bias was positively associated with self-reported negative emotional response, it was negatively associated with a physiological indicator of emotional response. The results were discussed in terms of an inability to automatically inhibit the processing of threatening cues, which seems to be a vulnerability marker for anxiety. Whether this bias is ultimately sufficient for the development of clinical anxiety remains to be examined in future research. Additionally, more information is needed before it can be established that the emotional Stroop task can be viewed as a reliable diagnostic tool for determining an individual’s anxiety status.</p>

One major focus of anxiety research in recent years has been the identification of cognitive factors that promote increased vulnerability to anxiety. Cognitive formulations propose that anxiety is characterised by an increased tendency to attend to negatively valenced emotional information, and that this bias may play a causal role in the development and maintenance of clinical anxiety. Evidence suggests that this anxiety-linked processing bias occurs even in conditions in which the stimuli are masked in order to prevent awareness of the content (i.e., preattentive bias). The present thesis focused principally on the preferential processing of threat-related information that occurs outside awareness. Two different outcome measures were used to index preferential preattentive processing of threat-related information in non-clinical populations: The emotional Stroop task was used to index selective attention to masked presentation of threatening word stimuli, whereas skin conductance responses were used to index selective autonomic responses to masked presentation of threatening pictorial stimuli. The empirical studies in the present thesis showed that elevated levels of trait anxiety promote preferential preattentive processing of negatively valenced information, whereas elevated levels of social desirability (interpreted as defensiveness) generally prevent preferential preattentive processing of negatively valenced information, especially among those at higher levels of trait anxiety, irrespective of outcome measure used. Moreover, previous research has demonstrated that a person’s most common emotional reaction when encountering a stressful event is causally influenced by that person’s habitual tendency to selectively encode the most threatening aspects of all available information. Thus, preattentive bias (as measured with the emotional Stroop task) was used to predict the emotional responses (as seen on self-reported emotional distress and autonomic reactivity) following exposure to a laboratory stressor. This study showed that preattentive bias to negative information had significant effects on both self-reported and physiological measures in response to a laboratory stressor, but in diametrically opposite directions. Specifically, whereas preattentive bias was positively associated with self-reported negative emotional response, it was negatively associated with a physiological indicator of emotional response. The results were discussed in terms of an inability to automatically inhibit the processing of threatening cues, which seems to be a vulnerability marker for anxiety. Whether this bias is ultimately sufficient for the development of clinical anxiety remains to be examined in future research. Additionally, more information is needed before it can be established that the emotional Stroop task can be viewed as a reliable diagnostic tool for determining an individual’s anxiety status.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between marital adjustment and the interpersonal nature of perfectionism. After controlling for depression and trait-anxiety, which were predicted to be linked with both marital adjustment and perfectionism, the relationship between marital adjustment / the dimensions of perfectionism (i.e. self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism) / a specific aspect of perfectionism, perceived criticism (i.e. criticalness toward the spouse, and criticalness of the spouse) / and the related demographic variables (i.e., age, education level, length of marriage, and whether having child) were covered in a sample of 210 (105 female and 105 male) Turkish married individuals who are in their first marriage. The participants completed inventories on dyadic adjustment (Dyadic Adjustment Scale &ndash / DAS), perfectionism (Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale &ndash / MPS-H), perceived criticism (Perceived Criticism Measures &ndash / PCM), depression (Beck Depression Inventory &ndash / BDI), trait-anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait Anxiety Form &ndash / STAI-T), and also a demographic information form. In order to analyze the data, hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted for females and males separately. Altogether, the results for females revealed that higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism, higher levels of depression and trait-anxiety, and having child were associated with lower levels of marital adjustment. Besides, if the woman thinks her husband is critical of she, then her marital adjustment score decreases. Moreover, the results for males showed that higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism, and higher levels of depression were found to be associated with lower levels of marital adjustment. Furthermore, if the man thinks he is critical of his wife, then his marital adjustment decreases. The findings, and their implications with suggestions for future research and practice, were discussed in the light of relevant literature.

Šiame darbe aptartas vaikų nerimastingumas (nerimo bruožas būti pastoviu), jo priežastys, tipai. Taip pat aptarti vaikų miego sutrikimai, jų simptomai, priežastys. Darbe aptartos vaikų nerimastingumo ir miego sutrikimų sąsajos. Šio darbo tikslas - įvertinti vaikų, lankančių priešmokyklinio ugdymo grupę nerimastingumo lygmenį, bei nustatyti tų vaikų miego sutrikimus (nemigą, lunatizmą, bruksizmą, naktinius košmarus, naktinį siaubą, neramių kojų sindromą bei enurezę) apklausiant jų tėvus. Nustatyti ar vaikams yra įvesta miego rutina ir miego higiena. Taip pat ieškoti sąsajų tarp vaikų nerimastingumo ir miego sutrikimų. Atliktas tyrimas, kurio metu buvo ištirti 108 priešmokyklinę ugdymo grupę darželyje lankantys vaikai (amžiaus vidurkis mėnesiais: 80  4). Iš jų 56 berniukai (51,9 %) (amžiaus vidurkis mėnesiais: 80  4) ir 52 mergaitės (48,1 %) (amžiaus vidurkis mėnesiais: 81  4). Taip pat į anketos klausimus apie vaikų miego sutrikimus atsakinėjo jų tėveliai. Išanalizavus gautus duomenis, nustatyta, kad miego sutrikimai (nemiga, naktiniai košmarai, naktinis siaubas, lunatizmas, bruksizmas, šlapinimasis į lovą, neramių kojų sindromas, nesuformuota miego higiena ir rutina) yra vienodai išreikšti berniukų ir mergaičių grupėse. Vaikų nerimastingumas nepriklauso nuo vaikų lyties ir vidutinių šeimos pajamų per mėnesį. Tačiau vaikai miegantys darbo savaitę darželyje pasižymi didesniu nerimastingumu nei vaikai, kurie darbo savaitę miega namuose. Taip pat nerimastingumas yra... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / There is discussed preschooler trait-anxiety and sleep disorders and their correlations in this work. The aim of this work is to rate preschooler trait-anxiety level and to assess children sleep disorders (insomnia, sleepwalking, bruxism, naightmares, night terror, periodic limb movement and enuresis) by questioning their parents. To determine whether there is sleep routine and sleep hygiene institued in familys of participants. Also to establish correlations of preschooler trait-anxiety link with sleep disorders. Participants of the research were 108 preschoolers (age mean 80  4 months). 56 boys (51,9 %) and 52 girls (48,1 %). Parents of particiapants were asked to fill in the form about children sleep disorders and some socio-demographic information. When the achieved data were analysed, it was determined that sleep disoreders such as insomnia, sleepwalking, bruxism, naightmares, night terror, periodic limb movement, enuresis and sleep routine with sleep hygiene has no diferences in groups of boys and girls. Trait-anxiety is not issued by gender and by incomes of parents. Children who sleep at night in kindergarden all work week has higher trait-anxiety level than children who sleep at home. Children who live in familys, where parents are arguing are rated as higher trait-anxiety level, than those, whose parents are not arguing. There are established sleepwalking, naightmares, night terror, periodic limb movement and enuresis and no sleep hygiene for children with... [to full text]

This study aimed at revealing the mediational role of mothers&rsquo / psychological adjustment between mothers&rsquo / parental attitudes and their preschool children&rsquo / s behavioral problems relationship. The participants were 204 married mothers, 64 fathers, 195 chief teachers and 25 assistant teachers of preschool children aged between 1&frac12 / - 5 years-old, who are attending nurseries in different neighborhoods of Ankara. Prior to the main analyses, the reliability analyses of Child Behavior Check List - 1&frac12 / - 5 (CBCL &ndash / 1&frac12 / - 5), and Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (C-TRF) were conducted. These analyses yielded many significant coefficients, though the strength of the correlations varied from low to high. Following the reliability analyses, Hierarchical Regression Analyses were performed to test the mediational role of mothers&rsquo / psychological adjustment between their parental attitudes and children&rsquo / s internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems relationships. For these analyses, the variances accounted for by children&rsquo / s and mothers&rsquo / demographic characteristics were controlled. Results revealed that, &lsquo / Rejection of the Home Making Role&rsquo / measure of PARI and Trait Anxiety measure explained the largest amount of variances while predicting the children&rsquo / s behavioral problems. According to hierarchical regression analyses, rejecting attitudes of mothers significantly associated with children&rsquo / s internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems. Moreover, mothers&rsquo / rejecting attitudes significantly associated with their trait anxiety which is in turn associated with children&rsquo / s behavior problems. However, after controlling for the effect of trait anxiety, the relationship between mothers&rsquo / rejecting attitudes and their children&rsquo / s behavior problems was disappeared. Therefore, mothers&rsquo / trait anxiety was found to mediate their rejecting attitudes and preschool children&rsquo / s internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems. Results were discussed by referring the relevant literature.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:52:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Arquivototal.pdf: 2281149 bytes, checksum: d14380e3a4dd073ce04f00366150d758 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study investigated and analyzed the existence of music performance anxiety among music students of the Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), in the context of instrument music classes. In this survey 28 students coming from pre-college, undergraduate and graduate music program from UFPB took part, in a total of four classes coordinated by faculty members of the UFPB Music Department. As a research procedure psychological tests that assessed levels of state-trait anxiety, music performance anxiety and participant observation were applied. They were undertaken during the semester final recitals of each class. From the analysis, comparison and correlation of the results of psychological tests and participant observation, we found levels of state-trait anxiety above what was predicted by normative samples and consistent with those of studies conducted in other parts of the world, with orchestra musicians and professional choirs. We also found levels of anxiety in music performance similar to existing research, and clear physical signs and behavioral of musical performance anxiety. The analysis of research variables: gender, education, age, occupation and level of demand confirmed some of the assumptions in the literature and brought new findings, which opened space for further discussion and research. These results confirm the hypothesis that anxiety in music performance is a widespread phenomenon that can affect musicians of any age, level or technical training, from students to professionals. Therefore, our data are indicative of the existence of actual music performance anxiety among music students of the UFPB, alerting us to the occurrence of a factor detrimental not only to performance, but also to the health and psychological well-being of musicians. / O presente trabalho investigou e analisou a existência da ansiedade em performance musical entre os alunos de música da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), no contexto das classes coletivas de instrumento. Fizeram parte desta pesquisa 28 alunos vindos dos cursos de Extensão, Bacharelado, Licenciatura, e Pós-Graduação em Música da UFPB, participantes de quatro turmas coletivas, coordenadas por professores do Departamento de Música. Como procedimento de pesquisa foram aplicados testes psicológicos que avaliaram os níveis de ansiedade de estado-traço e ansiedade em performance musical e empreendida observação participante durante os recitais de final de semestre de cada uma das turmas. A partir da análise, comparação e correlação dos resultados dos testes psicológicos e da observação participante, encontramos níveis de ansiedade de estado-traço acima do que era previsto pelas amostras normativas e compatíveis com os de estudos realizados em outras partes do mundo, com músicos de orquestras e de corais profissionais. Também encontramos níveis de ansiedade em performance musical semelhantes aos de pesquisas existentes, além de sinais físicos e comportamentais visíveis. A análise das variáveis de pesquisa: gênero, escolaridade, idade, profissão e grau de exigência confirmou algumas das hipóteses presentes na literatura e trouxe novos achados, os quais abrem espaço para outras discussões e pesquisas. Estes resultados confirmam a hipótese de que ansiedade em performance musical é um fenômeno generalizado, que pode acometer músicos de qualquer idade, nível técnico ou formação, desde estudantes à profissionais. Ainda, os dados aqui obtidos são indicativos reais da existência de ansiedade em performance musical entre os alunos de música da UFPB, alertando-nos para a ocorrência de um fator prejudicial não só à performance, mas também a saúde e ao bem-estar psicológico do músico.

[pt] O declínio no funcionamento cognitivo e a queixa de sintomas de ansiedade são frequentes no processo de envelhecimento. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo explorar a relação entre os sintomas de ansiedade com o desempenho cognitivo de indivíduos com idade acima de 55 anos. Está dividida em dois estudos em etapas progressivas. O primeiro estudo é uma revisão sistemática e o segundo estudo é uma pesquisa exploratória com protocolo de 73 testes cognitivos e 6 escalas de ansiedade. A amostra foi composta por 26 indivíduos idade acima de 55 anos, sendo 20 mulheres (76,92 por cento) e 6 homens (23,07 por cento), com idade média de 70,96 (mais ou menos 8,42) anos e escolaridade média de 16,23 ( mais ou menos 3,68) anos de escolaridade. Calcularam-se coeficientes de correlação e, para as correlações com efeito médio ou grande, foi feita análise de regressão linear. Em seguida, repetiu-se a análise em uma subamostra, considerando-se apenas os participantes com ansiedade acima do ponto de corte em pelo menos uma escala de ansiedade. Observaram-se mais correlações com efeito de tamanho médio ou grande na análise da subamostra. Em cada análise foram observadas 11 correlações significativas com efeito de tamanho médio ou grande, apontando associação entre ansiedade e funções cognitivas. A regressão linear destas correlações apontou que o aumento do nível de ansiedade reduz o desempenho em tarefas cognitivas. Conclui-se que os resultados apontam dissociação nos diferentes sistemas de ansiedade: (1) estado de ansiedade afetando memória de trabalho; (2) traço de ansiedade afetando memória episódica e velocidade de processamento; e (3) os sintomas fisiológicos da ansiedade afetando o controle inibitório. / [en] The decline in cognitive functioning and the complaint of anxiety symptoms are frequent in the aging process. This dissertation aimed to explore the relationship between anxiety symptoms and the cognitive performance of individuals aged over 55 years. It is divided into two studies in progressive stages. The first study is a systematic review and the second study is an exploratory research with protocol of 73 cognitive tests and 6 anxiety scales. The sample consisted of 26 individuals aged over 55 years, 20 women (76.92 percent) and 6 men (23.07 percent), with a mean age of 70.96 (plus or minus 8.42) years and average schooling of 16.23 (plus or minus 3.68) years of schooling. Correlation coefficients were calculated and, for correlations with medium or large effect, linear regression analysis was performed. Thereafter, the analysis was repeated in a subsample, considering only participants with anxiety above the cutoff point on at least one anxiety scale. There were more correlations with medium or large size effect in the subsample analysis. In each analysis, 11 significant correlations were observed with medium or large size effect, indicating an association between anxiety and cognitive functions. The linear regression of these correlations pointed out that the increase of the level of anxiety reduces the performance in cognitive tasks. We conclude that the results point to dissociation in the different anxiety systems: (1) anxiety state affecting working memory; (2) anxiety trait affecting episodic memory and processing speed; and (3) the physiological symptoms of anxiety affecting the inhibitory control.