What are the affective meanings of words for individuals with a high level of trait anxiety?

Abstract

Introduction: People with a high level of trait anxiety are characterised by a specific approach to information processing, which includes attentional and interpretative biases, hypervigilance in detecting threatening stimuli, and negativism/suspiciousness in the interpretation of data. Aims: The study was designed to investigate whether individuals with varying levels of trait anxiety present differences in the evaluation of words (their valence and level of arousal). Methods: The level of trait anxiety was assessed in 171 subjects, with the use of the Polish adaptation of Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Based on cluster analysis of sten results in STAI II, three groups of participants were distinguished (LA - low trait anxiety, HA - high trait anxiety, and MA - medium trait anxiety). Affective assessment of words was performed using a list of 101 words. Two elements were taken into account, i.e. valence and strength of arousal of each word, assessed on two Likert scales. The rating was in the range from -4 (negative valence/apathy) through 0 (indifference/calmness) to +4 (positive valence/excitation). Two overall indicators were calculated, i.e. the sum of emotional ratings and the sum of excitation ratings. Results: The rating of words in terms of their valence and strength of arousal is associated with the intensity of trait anxiety. Compared to other groups, the HA individuals present a different pattern in rating of words; they tend to assign words with less positive or in fact negative valence as well as slightly higher strength of arousal. The LA and MA individuals tend to rate words as more positive, and attribute them with similar excitement values. Unlike in the LA and MA groups, the findings in the HA group showed no correlations between the valence of the word and its level of arousal. Conclusions: The tendency to assign words with negative valence and slightly higher level of arousal, observed in the HA group, may be associated with negativity, which is one of the essential qualities of high level of trait anxiety. The characteristics of affective evaluation of words may provide a point of reference in analyses of cognitive and emotional functioning of individuals with anxiety disorders. The method of affective evaluation of words is an interesting option for diagnosing and assessing the dynamics of symptoms.