Executive function inhibition as moderator of the anxiety-intelligence relationship

Susan Jean Kozelka, Fordham University

Abstract

The current study examined the existence and nature of the statistical relationships between anxiety and intelligence-test performance as moderated by cognitive inhibition, an executive function. The research is to understand the mechanism of the interactions among these factors, which may play a significant role in interpreting the outcome of intelligence testing. The results indicate that no significant interaction was found between anxiety and executive functioning in their effect on intelligence test performance. In other words, the relationship between anxiety and intelligence did not depend on, or differ by, the level of executive functioning. Additionally, results from the sequential polynomial regression revealed that a curvilinear relationship did not exist between the anxiety and intelligence-test performance. It was predicted that performance-based subtests in intelligence test would have higher correlation with anxiety, in comparison to those subtests that are more verbal- based. The results indicate that higher Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale scores were significantly correlated with lower Verbal Comprehension scores, and higher CPT perseveration scores were significantly correlated with lower Perceptual Reasoning scores.

Subject Area

Neurosciences|Mental health|Behavioral psychology|Cognitive psychology

Recommended Citation

Kozelka, Susan Jean, "Executive function inhibition as moderator of the anxiety-intelligence relationship" (2015). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI3703246.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI3703246

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