title: Worry and working memory influence each other iteratively over time.
abstract: Little research has examined whether the relationship between working memory (WM) and anxiety/worry remains stable or changes over time; and, if changes occur, the factor(s) influencing change. Claims about influence are typically inferred from data collected at a single time point, and may misrepresent the nature of influence. To investigate the iterative influence of WM and Worry and/or vice versa, 133 fourteen-year-olds completed WM and Worry measures several times over the course of a single day as they prepared for a math test. We used a bivariate latent difference score model to analyse possible changes in WM-Worry relationships. The best fitting model indicated high Worry predicts decreases in WM, and low or decreased WM predicts increases in Worry; high WM with low Worry predicts accurate problem solving; low WM with high Worry predicts inaccurate problem solving. Findings show relationships between WM and Worry varies considerably over a single day, and initial disadvantages become worse over time.
authors: a Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia.
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: Trezise
authors: a Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia.
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Reeve
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cognition–emotion interactions; Latent difference score model; Math anxiety/worry; Stability and change; Working memory