Abstract
Background: We investigated whether individual differences in baseline executive control capacity could predict state anxiety during a potentially life-threatening situation.
Methods: 19 Swedish military conscripts were assessed during two measurement occasions. During a baseline measurement, data regarding performance on a letter fluency task and state anxiety were assessed. During a second measurement, performed immediately prior to
participation in a live hand-grenade throwing exercise, data regarding state anxiety was assessed. All participants were male, right-handed and had fulfilled 12 years of education.
Results: The level of state anxiety was significantly increased between the two measurement occasions (p < .01). Both the number of words produced ( β = -.37; p < .05) and the number of perseveration made ( β = .43; p < .05) on the verbal fluency task predicted, while controlling for state anxiety at baseline, the level of experienced state anxiety during the threatening situation.
Conclusion: Although more research is needed the present finding suggests that individualdifferences in executive control capacity might be related to emotion regulation ability during acute stressor exposure.
Methods: 19 Swedish military conscripts were assessed during two measurement occasions. During a baseline measurement, data regarding performance on a letter fluency task and state anxiety were assessed. During a second measurement, performed immediately prior to
participation in a live hand-grenade throwing exercise, data regarding state anxiety was assessed. All participants were male, right-handed and had fulfilled 12 years of education.
Results: The level of state anxiety was significantly increased between the two measurement occasions (p < .01). Both the number of words produced ( β = -.37; p < .05) and the number of perseveration made ( β = .43; p < .05) on the verbal fluency task predicted, while controlling for state anxiety at baseline, the level of experienced state anxiety during the threatening situation.
Conclusion: Although more research is needed the present finding suggests that individualdifferences in executive control capacity might be related to emotion regulation ability during acute stressor exposure.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
| Journal | Behavioral and Brain Functions |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 39 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Psychology
Free keywords
- Executive control
- state anxiety
- prospective
- stress