The Interaction Model of Anxiety and the Threat of Quebec's Separation From Canada

The interaction model of anxiety was investigated by assessing trait and state anxiety in students at a Canadian university during the Quebec referendum. The results of Study 1 confirmed that the threat of separation by Quebec from Canada was perceived as an ambiguous, uncertain situation. In Study...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 1999-01, Vol.76 (1), p.143-150
Main Authors: Flett, Gordon L, Endler, Norman S, Fairlie, Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
Anxiety
Anxiety - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Canada
College students
Cross-Sectional Studies
Fear
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Independence movements
Male
Ontario
Personality
Personality Inventory
Personality Traits
Personality. Affectivity
Politics
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Quebec
Separatism
Social Perception
Social Processes
Social psychology
Stress
Students - psychology
Uncertainty
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Summary:The interaction model of anxiety was investigated by assessing trait and state anxiety in students at a Canadian university during the Quebec referendum. The results of Study 1 confirmed that the threat of separation by Quebec from Canada was perceived as an ambiguous, uncertain situation. In Study 2, reactions to this situation were assessed by having participants complete measures of anxiety and situation perception at Time 1 (i.e., 3 hr before the event) and Time 2 (i.e., 1 week after the vote). The results provide support for the interaction model; individuals who were high in trait anxiety in ambiguous situations and appraised the referendum situation as threatening were characterized by elevated state anxiety before the uncertain outcome of the vote. The results illustrate the need to examine trait anxiety and specific appraisals of situational threat in uncertain life situations.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.76.1.143