Computers, anxiety, and gender: an analysis of reactions to the Y2K computer problem

Abstract

The current study investigated computer attitudes, anxiety, behavior, and gender in the context of a computer-related uncertain event with potentially far-reaching implications, the Y2K computer problem. Internet-based data collection resulted in a sample of 1500 participants who completed questionnaires on a research website. Path analyses showed that Y2K anxiety and preparations were significantly predicted by a number of variables, including computer anxiety and negative attitudes toward computers, trait anxiety, and gender. Trait anxiety significantly predicted computer anxiety and negative attitudes toward computers. Gender significantly predicted Y2K anxiety, trait anxiety, and computer anxiety, but indirect effects of gender on Y2K anxiety as mediated by the other variables were not significant, suggesting that women's higher levels of trait and computer anxiety did not explain their greater Y2K anxiety. The path model with the best overall fit included computer anxiety predicting negative attitudes computers rather than vice versa. Implications for interventions aimed at reducing situation-specific computer anxiety are discussed, including the importance of targeting anxiety directly, not just negative thoughts about computers.