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Abstract

It was predicted that frequency of undesirable behavior would be correlated with anxiety. A distinction was made between individuals who punish themselves for engaging in undesirable behavior (Reactors) and those who do not (Nonreactors), and the former were expected to benefit the most from self-monitoring. 50 undergraduates were asked to monitor their behavior and anxiety for 14 days. The correlation between behavior and anxiety was small but significant. Furthermore, subjects whose behavior decreased showed the greatest decrement in anxiety. The anxiety level from before to the period of self-monitoring decreased for Reactors but not for Nonreactors. However, during self-monitoring there was no difference in both behavior and anxiety between the two groups. It is possible that a longer self-monitoring period is required for the relationship between anxiety and behavior or additional behavioral interventions are necessary.

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Anxiety as a Possible Mediator of Self-Monitoring Effects

Abstract

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References