Identifier

etd-02272009-141533

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of anxiety on the intellectual functioning of children. Specifically, the current researchers sought to replicate previous findings that children with higher levels of anxiety have significantly lower scores on tests of intelligence. A second goal was to examine possible reasons for these deficits, including possible deficits in working memory and/or attention. Participants were divided into two groups with high and low anxiety, based on a self-report measure, though none of the children reported clinically problematic anxiety. The participants were 19 children (10 males, 9 females) who were recruited from the community and from an anxiety clinic. Children were administered an intelligence test and a memory test by a trained clinician. Parents and children were also asked to complete self-report measures of anxiety symptoms and other problem behaviors. Contrary to the hypothesis, those with higher levels of anxiety scored significantly higher on the intelligence test then children reporting lower anxiety. No differences were found between the groups on the measures of working memory or attention, therefore meditational analyses were not undertaken. Possible explanations of these findings, as well as limitations and recommendations for future research are also explored.

Date

2009

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Thompson Davis III

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1764

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Psychology Commons

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