The Anxiety Thermometer: A Validation Study

The aim of our study was to provide validation and reproducible data for the anxiety thermometer. This thermometer is either a continuous or a 10-point Likert-type scale on which subjects are asked to rate their anxiety feelings at a particular moment. It is a quick way to measure state-anxiety. As a validation criterion the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) A-State scale was used. To rest the reproducibility of the thermometer, a test-retest correlation coefficient was calculated, with a retrospective second thermometer score. The ego-threatening situation used was a written examination. Two experiments were carried out during different examination conditions. The data consistently indicated that the validity and reproducibility of the anxiety thermometer is fair (correlation coefficients between .60 and .78). In the second study, the possible influence of two factors on the retrospective scores were additionally tested.     

Development of a Short Version of the Dutch Version of the Spielberger STAI Trait Anxiety Scale in Women Suspected of Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Survivors

The objective of the current study was to develop a short form of the Dutch version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Trait scale and to provide initial validation data in a sample of breast cancer patients and survivors. This short trait anxiety (A-Trait) scale was designed to reduce time and effort required of severely ill or handicapped patients involved in extensive assessment procedures. Another goal was to assess A-Trait with minimal overlap with content that reflects Quality of Life (QoL) and fatigue. Three groups of women either completed the original Trait scale (Groups 1 and 2) or the 10-item trait version (Group 3). In Group 1, exploratory factor analysis with the Scree test, Velicer’s MAP criteria and parallel analysis as tests for factor retention, indicated a 10-item Trait version reflecting two factors: Anxiety Present and Anxiety Absent. In the other groups, confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-factor short form provided the best fit. In all three groups Trait Anxiety was highly related to Neuroticism. The correlation between Overall QoL and General Health and the Anxiety Present short scale was lower than the correlation between Overall QoL and General Health and the full form (Z = 2.20, p = .03). With this short A-Trait scale it becomes possible to study the relationship between dispositional anxiety and clinically important outcome variables without inflating estimates of these relations through psychometric contamination.     

Similarities between retrospective and actual anxiety states

The purpose of the study was to examine the fit and calibration of the items in Spielberger, Gorsuch, and Lushene's (1970) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory during measurement of actual and retrospective anxiety. Subjects in the actual anxiety situation (n = 113) and in the retrospective anxiety situation (n = 55) were administered the inventory, and 20 scale items were analyzed individually by the probabilistic Rasch Model (Wright & Masters, 1982). Comparisons between the items' values in both situations revealed that 17 of the 20 items were rated similarly. In the retrospective anxiety state, 9 items (misfits) failed to discriminate between high- and low-anxious subjects, but only 6 failed to do so in the actual anxiety state. Despite the similarities, we recommend that the scales be modified to yield a more reliable measure of anxiety and to discriminate more accurately among subjects with varying levels of anxiety.     

Avoidance and depression: the construction of the cognitive-behavioral avoidance scale

Previous research has demonstrated a relationship between avoidance and depression, although the nature of this relationship has been confused by inconsistent definitions of avoidance. Following a review of the construct of avoidance and an examination of past research, a new multidimensional measure of avoidance was developed and validated using an undergraduate student sample (245 females and 146 males). Four reliable factors reflecting combinations of cognitive/behavioral and social/nonsocial dimensions of avoidance were obtained from the factor analysis of the new scale, entitled the "Cognitive-Behavioral Avoidance Scale" (CBAS). The scale showed the predicted relationships with convergent and divergent measures used for construct validation. As predicted, subscales of the CBAS, as well as the overall scale score, were significantly related to the depression and anxiety criterion measures. The findings from this study suggest that avoidance may be an important construct in the psychosocial conceptualization of depression. In addition, this integrated measure of avoidance has potential utility for depression researchers. Suggestions for further scale development and research are provided.     

Worry and Pathological Worry in Patients with Psoriasis: Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) in Four Samples of Patients

The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Penn state Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) in patients with psoriasis. A series of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were undertaken to assess the reliability, stability and validity of the measure. Patients with psoriasis from four samples (consecutive attendees, anxious patients, depressed patients, and 6-month follow-up of consecutive attendees) completed the PSWQ and measures assessing related constructs of anxiety and depression (HADS) and coping (COPE). The clinical severity of patients psoriasis was also assessed by dermatologists using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Exploratory factor analysis was undertaken and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to examine the clinical utility of the PSWQ cut-off score for normal and pathological worry. Exploratory factor analysis suggested that the PSWQ is essentially unidimensional in patients with psoriasis. Intraclass correlation demonstrated that, over a 6-month period, the reproducibility of the PSWQ total scale was good in patients with anxiety and moderate in patients with depression. ROC analysis suggested that the optimum cutoff differentiating pathological worry was > 60, which is commensurate with findings in adult mental health more generally. The PSWQ cutoff for pathological worry showed a lower specificity for depression than anxiety. The PSWQ is an appropriate measure of pathological worry in patients with psoriasis. The cutoff on the scale for pathological worry demonstrates appropriate conceptual overlap with subordinate distress categories of anxiety and depression.     

Measuring test anxiety in children: Scale development and internal construct validation

Given the increased testing of school-aged children in the United States there is a need for a current and valid scale to measure the effects of test anxiety in children. The domain of children's test anxiety was theorized to be comprised of three dimensions: thoughts, autonomic reactions, and off-task behaviors. Four stages are described in the evolution of the Children's Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS): planning, construction, quantitative evaluation, and validation. A 50-item scale was administered to a development sample (N=230) of children in grades 3–6 to obtain item analysis and reliability estimates which resulted in a refined 30-item scale. The reduced scale was administered to a validation sample (N=261) to obtain construct validity evidence. A three-factor structure fit the data reasonably well. Recommendations for future research with the scale are described.     

Differential relationship of recent self-reported stress and acute anxiety with divided attention performance

There have been relatively few studies on the relationship between recent perceived environmental stress and cognitive performance, and the existing studies do not control for state anxiety during the cognitive testing. The current study addressed this need by examining recent self-reported environmental stress and divided attention performance, while controlling for state anxiety. Fifty-four university undergraduates who self-reported a wide range of perceived recent stress (10-item perceived stress scale) completed both single and dual (simultaneous auditory and visual stimuli) continuous performance tests. Partial correlation analysis showed a statistically significant positive correlation between perceived stress and the auditory omission errors from the dual condition, after controlling for state anxiety and auditory omission errors from the single condition (r = 0.41). This suggests that increased environmental stress relates to decreased divided attention performance in auditory vigilance. In contrast, an increase in state anxiety (controlling for perceived stress) was related to a decrease in auditory omission errors from the dual condition (r = - 0.37), which suggests that state anxiety may improve divided attention performance. Results suggest that further examination of the neurobiological consequences of environmental stress on divided attention and other executive functioning tasks is needed.     

Academic examinations and anxiety: The interaction model empirically tested

The person-by-situation interaction model of anxiety was tested in the reallife setting of an academic examination. Twenty-eight male and 79 female university students served as subjects. State anxiety (A-State) was assessed just prior to the examination (Trial 2) and approximately 1 week before (Trial 1) and after (Trial 3) the examination. Five facets of trait anxiety (A-Trait) were measured in a nonstressful situation 1 week prior to the examination. The subject's cognitive appraisal of the various situations was assessed by a self-report index of the type and degree of threat involved in the situation just experienced. As predicted, a significant A-Trait-by-situation interaction in eliciting A-State was observed for social evaluation A-Trait. There were no interactions for the other, noncongruent facets of trait anxiety. The results also indicated that individuals' perception of situations may be the most important factor affecting reactions to stressful situations. In general, the results were interpreted as providing support for the multidimensionality of A-Trait and further validation of the interaction model of anxiety.     

Validity of virtual reality as a method of exposure in the treatment of test anxiety

This is a validation study, aiming to explore the effectiveness of a set of virtual environments forproducing emotionally significant responses in students with high levels of test anxiety in order to be able to implement them later in treatment. Twenty-one students agreed to take part, 11 with high test anxiety and 10 with low test anxiety. The virtual environments were prepared in chronological order: the student's home, then the metro, and finally the corridor and lecture hall where the examination takes place. The results showed that the high-test-anxiety group presented higher levels of anxiety and depression than the low-test-anxiety group during exposure to the virtual environments. This study shows that virtual reality is able to provoke emotional responses in students with high test anxiety. This validation study should be followed up with treatment studies to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality therapy for treating testanxiety.     

青少年智能手机问题性使用与焦虑的交叉滞后分析

对393名高中生进行10个月的纵向追踪,采用问卷法考察青少年智能手机问题性使用与焦虑之间的关系。结果发现：青少年智能手机问题性使用与焦虑水平随着时间推移有增加的趋势;青少年智能手机问题性使用与焦虑显著正相关;前测焦虑水平能够显著预测后测智能手机问题性使用程度,而前测智能手机问题性使用程度不能显著预测后测焦虑水平,且这一预测关系存在性别差异。     

Can we adapt to highly automated vehicles as passengers? The mediating effect of trust and situational awareness on role adaption moderated by automated driving style

The emergence of highly automated driving technology provides safe and convenient travel while also causing user inadaptation. Therefore, based on human factors engineering, it is necessary to study highly automated vehicles (HAVs) that meet different user needs. Thus, this study aims to investigate the relationships between state anxiety, situational awareness, trust, and role adaptation. The adaptation model is constructed to conduct a study on the adaptation of HAVs with different automated styles when user roles change from driver to passenger. Simulated riding was conducted in the HAV experiment (N = 117), collecting scale data after each participant had experienced each automated driving style. A structural equation modeling approach was applied to analyze the adaptation model based on scale data. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between state anxiety, situational awareness, trust, and role adaptation. State anxiety has a significant negative predictive effect on trust, situational awareness, and role adaptation. In addition to its direct impact on role adaptation, state anxiety also has an indirect effect on role adaptation through situational awareness and trust. Furthermore, the automated driving style has been confirmed to have a moderating role in the relationship between the direct and indirect effects of state anxiety and role adaptation. Our findings contribute to multiple streams of the literature and have important implications for designing personalized automated driving to improve user acceptance.     

高中生元担忧与考试焦虑

我们通过问卷的方式对广东地区3所中学的1273名高中生的考试焦虑与元担忧水平之间的关系进行了研究。结果发现：考试焦虑与高中学生的学习成绩呈显著负相关;除考试担忧、命运担忧、家庭担忧和感官担忧4个项目男女没有显著差异外,其他各项目都存在显著差异;对全体高中学生来说,考试、学习、将来、命运、家庭、能力和身体7个方面的元担忧对考试焦虑有正面贡献;将来元担忧和能力元担忧对男、女生的考试焦虑的贡献都是正值,且贡献显著。命运、人际、家庭、感官4个方面的元担忧对男生的贡献为正值,且贡献显著,即这些方面的水平的提高与男生高水平的考试焦虑相联系;考试、学习和身体3个方面的元担忧对女生考试焦虑的贡献是正值,且贡献显著,即这3个方面的元担忧水平的提高与女生高水平的考试焦虑相联系。     

嫉妒与人格的关系

旨在考察嫉妒与人格维度及人格因素的关系 ,通过对 2 31名被试者施测Bringle自我报告嫉妒量表 ,Hup ka爱情嫉妒量表 ,White习惯及关系嫉妒量表 ,Buunk嫉妒量表和大 5人格量表 (NEO -PI-R) ,对施测结果进行相关分析和逐步回归分析 ,发现在大 5人格量表中所包含的神经质 ,外向性 ,开放性 ,顺同性和严谨性 5种人格维度中 ,只有神经质维度与嫉妒呈现一致性密切关系 ;外向性维度与嫉妒的一致性关系尚不明确 ;开放性维度、顺同性维度和严谨性维度与嫉妒关系并不密切。在 30种人格因素中 ,除焦虑、自我意识、正性情绪和信任 4种人格因素与嫉妒呈现一致性密切关系外 ,其他人格因素与嫉妒的关系不明显甚至无关。研究结果表明 :在 5种人格维度中 ,神经质人格维度在嫉妒的形成和发展中起主要影响作用 ;在 30种人格因素中 ,焦虑、自我意识、正性情绪和信任 4种人格因素是影响嫉妒心理和嫉妒行为的重要因素     

困境儿童孤独与社交焦虑对抑郁的影响——自尊的中介作用

为探讨困境儿童孤独、社交焦虑、抑郁和自尊的现状、特点、关系以及自尊在其中的中介作用,进而为困境儿童心理帮扶及救助提供依据。本研究使用儿童抑郁障碍自评量表、儿童孤独量表、儿童社交焦虑量表和自尊量表对重庆市17个区县1733名困境儿童进行调查。结果发现:(1)抑郁、社交焦虑和自尊存在性别差异,抑郁、孤独、社交焦虑和自尊存在年龄差异;(2)孤独和社交焦虑与抑郁呈显著正相关并显著预测抑郁,自尊与抑郁呈显著负相关并显著预测抑郁。(3)困境儿童的自尊在孤独和抑郁之间,社交焦虑和抑郁之间起中介作用。结果表明:困境儿童的孤独、社交焦虑既可直接影响其抑郁水平,也可通过自尊的中介作用间接影响其抑郁水平。     

预期焦虑对面孔表情加工的影响

预期焦虑是由于对未发生结果的负性投射造成的焦虑情绪。本文比较了被试在不同预期焦虑水平下观看愉快、中性及恐惧面孔时的行为和脑电数据。发现在高预期焦虑水平下,恐惧面孔诱发的N170波幅显著大于低预期焦虑水平,而愉快和中性面孔在两种水平下诱发的波幅差异不显著;且预期焦虑水平对恐惧面孔诱发的N170波幅的调节强度与个体的特质焦虑得分显著相关。这些结果表明,预期焦虑水平会影响面孔表情加工,且不同情绪面孔受到的影响不同。我们推测,预期焦虑水平会通过影响杏仁核等脑区的激活来调节颞上回对恐惧面孔的加工。     

An Idiographic Single-Case Study Examining the Use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with Three Amateur Golfers to Alleviate Social Anxiety

Performance anxiety has been studied in relation to golf performance, but one phenomenon that has received scant attention is social anxiety. One potential intervention that could reduce social anxiety in golfers is rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), a cognitive-behavioral approach for which research interest is growing. The current study used an idiographic single-case study design to assess the effects of REBT on the social anxiety of 3 male amateur golfers. REBT was employed both on and off the golf course to ensure integration of REBT into the golfers’ performance, offering a methodological advancement of past research. Data were collected prior to, during, and after the REBT intervention. Visual analysis following single-case guidelines revealed substantial reductions in irrational beliefs and social anxiety in all three golfers. Social validation data indicated the positive receipt of REBT by the golfers and supported the visual analysis findings. This current study supports the effectiveness of REBT and extends the research by applying REBT in a “real-world” performance setting, offering methodological advances and providing clear implications for future research and practice.     

Psychometric Properties of Maternal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire in a Population of Iranian Mothers

Self-efficacy is an important indicator of a woman’s successful transition to her maternal role and an important predictor of a mother’s infant care behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the maternal self-efficacy scale in Iranian mothers. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 437 newly delivered mothers who were referred to health care centers in Bonab, Iran. A simple random sampling was performed. The research instrument included maternal self-efficacy. Translation validity was performed using the forward and backward translation method. Content validity was determined in qualitative (assessment of experts’ opinions) and quantitative areas using the content validity ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI). Face validity was determined on 30 newly delivered mothers. To determine the construct validity, exploratory factor analysis was used. The reliability was determined in terms of reproducibility via Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) by test–retest and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). CVI and CVR were 0.91 and 0.94 respectively. Further, the reliability was approved both in terms of reproducibility (ICC = 0.98) and internal consistency (α = 0.89). Construct validity was confirmed using exploratory factor analysis (KMO = 0.90, Bartlett’s test p < 0.001) for the scale. The findings supported the validity and reliability of the research instrument. Therefore, it is recommended that the instrument can be used in both clinical practice and research.     

Investigation of the Relationship Between Anxiety Levels of Patients Before Plastic Surgery Operation and Worship Practices in Muslims

There is an increasing interest in the effects of preoperative anxiety on the course and outcomes of surgical treatments and also in the studies about the anxiety-decreasing interventions. The present study aims to identify the relationship between the preoperative anxiety level of the individuals prior to aesthetic surgery operations such as nose, ear, eyelid, and mammoplasty and religious rituals such as performing prayers, fasting, and going to pilgrimage. The frequency of performing the religious rituals was identified through a questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions about the religious rituals such as performing prayers, going to a pilgrimage, and fasting as well as questions about sociodemographic features such as gender, age, and education level of the patients. Preoperative anxiety level was measured using the “Anxiety Specific to Surgery Questionnaire.” The nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test was used for the scale score comparisons of the two independent groups. The scale score comparisons of more than two groups were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The relationships between age and scale scores were analyzed using the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The study involved 117 patients who were planned to undergo an aesthetic surgery operation. The scale scores were significantly different according to the pilgrimage groups (p = 0.004). The scale scores were significantly different according to the level of fasting (p = 0.022). No significant differences were found between the scales scores of the groups who reported the frequency of performing prayer as never, sometimes or five times (p = 0.515). In conclusion, the present study found that Muslim people who performed religious rituals more often experienced less preoperative anxiety levels in plastic surgeries, which indicates that the belief level is an effective factor in preoperative anxiety levels. The findings of the present study indicate that patients’ beliefs and worship practices should be taken into consideration by doctors, operating room personnel, and even all health workers in order to decrease the anxiety levels of patients who will undergo surgery.

     

Manifest anxiety and two-point threshold sensitivity.

The present study utilized 27 college students (14 females, 13 males) to investigate the effects of anxiety upon the ability to attend to detail (two-point threshold sensitivity). It was hypothesized that subjects both low and high in anxiety would have a smaller threshold than mild or moderately anxious subjects. A curvilinear correlation of .83 (p less .01) was obtained between anxiety scores and two-point threshold sensitivity. There was no significant difference between mean thresholds for those scoring above or below the median on the anxiety scale. Suggestions for further research are discussed.     

考前焦虑、成就目标和考试成绩关系的研究

该研究以238名参与者为样本,对其考前焦虑、成就目标及高考成绩进行了考察,采用相关分析和回归分析技术探讨了三者之间的关系.结果表明,高考生的焦虑水平远远高于一般正常人;考前焦虑与掌握趋近目标显著负相关,与掌握回避目标和成绩回避目标显著正相关.掌握趋近目标和掌握回避目标是状态焦虑的预测变量,而特质焦虑的预测变量同时包括四种目标定向;高考总分和英语与考前焦虑显著负相关,成就目标与高考成绩的相关较弱.