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Individual differences in trait anxiety and goal-commitment predict updating efficiency on the reading span task

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Abstract

According to attentional control theory (ACT; Eysenck et al. in Emotion 7(2):336–353, 2007) anxious individuals recruit motivation on demanding tasks, which helps prevent performance shortfalls. We used a quasi-experimental design to examine the relationship between trait anxiety (operationalised using questionnaire scores), situational stress (manipulated using ego threat instructions) and motivation (indexed using a self-report goal-commitment scale) in predicting effectiveness (accuracy) and efficiency (accuracy divided by RT) on the reading span task. After controlling for depression, the variables were not related to effectiveness; however there was a significant trait anxiety × goal-commitment interaction on reading span efficiency. Higher trait anxiety predicted better efficiency at higher goal-commitment, and poorer efficiency at lower goal-commitment, and these relationships were independent of situational stress. Results are interpreted in terms of ACT.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an Australian Post-graduate Award Scholarship and a Queensland Smart Futures Top-up Scholarship awarded to Elizabeth Edwards. We acknowledge the contribution of Michael Richter and an anonymous reviewer who helped us to improve this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4229, Australia

    Elizabeth J. Edwards, Mark S. Edwards & Michael Lyvers

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4229, Australia

    Elizabeth J. Edwards

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  1. Elizabeth J. Edwards
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Correspondence to Elizabeth J. Edwards.

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Edwards, E.J., Edwards, M.S. & Lyvers, M. Individual differences in trait anxiety and goal-commitment predict updating efficiency on the reading span task. Motiv Emot 40, 936–945 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9572-8

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