State-Trait Personality Inventory Research Articles

Relationships of anxiety scores to screening and training status of air traffic controllers : Collins, W E, Schroeder, D J and Nye, L GAviation, Space, and Environmental Med, 1991, 62.3, 236–240, 8 refs

The present study assessed the relationship between anxiety, as measured by the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and success of post-strike air traffic control specialist (ATCS) trainees at the FAA Academy and during field training. The STPI was administered to students who entered the FAA Academy between June 1984 and September 1985. Academy test scores were obtained for 1,790 students in the en route option. Criterion data included the field training status of the Academy graduates as of July 1988. Statistical analyses determined the relationships between ATCS student scores on the STPI measures and a) normative data and b) Academy screening and field training results. ATCS students reported significantly lower state (current level) and trait (proneness) levels of anxiety than did either college students or military recruits. Trainees who had relatively high scores (for ATCSs) on a combined index of the trait and state measures of anxiety exhibited significantly higher a) percentages of Academy failures/withdrawals, b) percentages of option switches in the field, and c) overall field attrition, than did trainees with low scores. Results support the operation of some personality-related self-selection among ATCS applicants regarding anxiety and the importance of this low anxiety characteristic for ATCS job success.

Anger and irrational beliefs in violent inmates

In the present study the relationship of anger and irrational beliefs was examined. Subjects were 110 adults males with documented histories of violence incarcerated at a maximum security correctional institution. The T-Anger subscale of the State-Trait Personality Inventory and three factor based scales; Angry Temperament, Perceived Personal Injustice and Interpersonal Provocability were found to be significantly related to global irrational beliefs as measured by the Belief Scale (Malouff & Schutte, 1986). The relationship of anger and irrational beliefs was reduced, but was still significant when anxiety was controlled for. One implication of the results of this investigation is that anger treatment programs would be advised to include a cognitive component such as Rational Emotive Therapy (RET).

The Anger Expression (AX) Scale: Correlations with the State-Trait Personality Inventory and Subscale Intercorrelations

Undergraduate students (N = 502) completed the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI; Spielberger et al., 1979), and the Anger Expression Scale (AX; Spielberger et al., 1986), composed of three subscales, Anger Out (AX/Out), Anger In (AX/In), and Anger Control (AX/Con), and a total score of Anger Experienced (AX/EX). Correlations between each of the scales and subscales of the personality inventories were calculated and were compared with one another. As predicted, correlations between AX/EX and STPI subscales related to anger and anxiety were significantly higher than that between AX/EX and the STPI Curiosity subscale. Furthermore, the STPI Trait Anger Temperament subscale was more highly correlated with AX/Out than were any of the other personality subscales except STPI Trait Anger. Correlations between subscales of the AX were compared with those obtained by Spielberger et al. (1985) Whereas Spielberger et al. (1985) made a case for the independence of AX/Out and AX/In by presenting correlations of essentially zero for both male and female subjects, the present study showed a significant positive correlation between the two subscales for men, casting some doubt on the independence of the subscales.

Anxiety and Anger in Patients with Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias. Responses after Automatic Internal Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation

In order to assess the psychological profile of patients with malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias, eight patients who underwent implantation of the automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator for refractory arrhythmias were evaluated. Six men and two women with a mean age of 53 years were examined with the Symptom Checklist-90, the State Trait Personality Inventory and a specifically designed questionnaire about the automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator. The group studied manifested high degrees of both anger and anxiety compared to normal controls or to other medically ill populations. The trait scores remained essentially unchanged before and after the AICD implantation. The state of anxiety was markedly reduced by 26 percentage points after implantation (P less than 0.01), while the state of anger remained unchanged. In evaluating the number of AICD discharges, it was observed that the number of discharges in the first 6 months was higher than that observed in the subsequent follow-up period (mean 30 months). The reduction in AICD discharges demonstrated a trend (P = 0.094). Patient acceptance of the automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator was high. They became accustomed to the pulse generator after a mean of 3.6 months. The defibrillator permitted resumption of normal activities. If the device became battery depleted, all patients would insist on replacement. The evaluation of this group of patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias indicates a high degree of anxiety and anger, which potentially may influence outcome. The reduction in defibrillator discharges after the first 6 months in addition to a reduced state of anxiety is a relationship that merits further investigation.

P300 and EPQ/STPI personality traits

The relation between the amplitude and latency of the P300 wave of the event-related brain potential and dimensions of personality assessed by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI) was examined using an auditory version of the ‘oddball’ paradigm. Previous reports that P300 latency, an index of the speed of perceptual information processing, was inversely related to neuroticism were verified in the present study for males only. Furthermore, this inverse relation in males appeared to be due to neurotic anger more than neurotic anxiety, as reflected by a significant inverse relation between P300 latency and Trait Anger but not Trait Anxiety. P300 latency was also directly related to extraversion in males, but this relation may have been secondary to a negative correlation between extraversion and neuroticism. Previous findings of an inverse relation between extraversion and P300 amplitude were not replicated. P300 amplitude was also not related to psychoticism, suggesting that this personality dimension is not related to psychosis in the clinical sense.

Sex differences in anxiety, curiosity, and anger: A cross-cultural study

The major aim of the present study was to examine sex-group differences in anxiety, curiosity, and anger, as states and traits, among Israeli college students, and to compare the data with norms available for American students. The sample was composed of 223 female and 151 male students who were administered the Hebrew version of Spielberger's State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI/HB). Significant differences in the STPI/HB profile for males and females were observed, with greater sex-group differentiation on the trait scales than on the state scales. Specifically, Israeli females show higher levels of Trait-Anxiety and Trait-Anger than Israeli males, whereas higher levels of State-Curiosity are observed among the latter. Overall, the sex difference profiles are highly comparable for Israeli and American college students. Observed sex-group differences are discussed and explicated.

Personality and smokeless tobacco use

Smokeless tobacco use and personality factors associated with smokeless tobacco use were examined in a broad, representative sample of 8th and 10th graders from central and south-central Florida ( n = 1413). Current, occasional, or ex-users of smokeless tobacco accounted for 51% of the males and 9% of the females. Smokeless tobacco users, as compared to non-users, had significantly higher Trait Anger, and Angry Temperament and Angry Reaction subscale scores on the State-Trait Personality Inventory, suggesting a possible role in the initiation of smokeless tobacco use. There were no differences in Trait Anger, Anxiety, or Curiosity scores between the three user groups, suggesting that trait personality does not play a role in the maintenance of smokeless tobacco use.

Test-retest reliability of the state-trait personality inventory and the anger expression scale

Abstract The State-Trait Personality Inventory and the Anger Expression Scale have been attracting increasing attention in research involving personality assessment, but no data regarding the test-retest reliability of these instruments have been published. The 14-day test-retest correlation coefficients for the subscales of these instruments reflect appropriately low stability for the state scales of the STPI and moderate stability for the STPI trait scales as well as the AX subscales.

Psychological correlates of hostility among patients undergoing coronary angiography.

The Cook-Medley Hostility (Ho) scale (Cook & Medley, 1954) has been associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). There is relatively little information about the psychosocial correlates of the Ho scale in clinical or adult populations, however. In this study, 132 patients (mean age = 53 years) referred for diagnostic coronary angiography completed a battery of self-report questionnaires including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Hopkins Symptom Check List (SCL-90), State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), Type A Self-Rating Inventory (TASRI), and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Examination of the pattern of correlations among the Ho scale and the psychometric instruments revealed that the Ho scale may be viewed as tapping four general behavioural dimensions including anger and hostility, neuroticism, social maladjustment and ineffective coping style. These findings serve to further understanding about the psychological dimensions of hostility as measured by the Cook-Medley Ho scale.

Effects of age and gender on the relationship between anxiety and coronary artery disease.

This study investigated the relationship between anxiety and coronary artery disease (CAD). State (S-ANX) and trait (T-ANX) anxiety were assessed with the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), which was administered to 373 patients (230 males, 143 females) 12 to 18 hr prior to their undergoing coronary arteriography. Females were significantly higher than males in both T-ANX (p less than 0.05) and S-ANX (p less than 0.01). Younger patients of both sexes were significantly higher in S-ANX (p less than 0.001), but no relationship was found between T-ANX and age. Patients with CAD did not differ in S-ANX from those without CAD. T-ANX scores of female patients were unrelated to MI or CAD. Male patients with chest pain only (CPO) were higher in T-ANX than males with prior myocardial infarction or chest pain plus CAD (p less than 0.01). Although this difference was not significant for older males (p less than 0.31), younger CPO males were significantly higher in T-ANX than the other clinical groups (p less than 0.05). These results were interpreted as indicating that high T-ANX is not associated with CAD, but is a risk factor for angiography, especially for younger males.

The relationship between impulsiveness subtraits, trait anxiety, and visual N100 augmenting/reducing: A topographic analysis

The relationship between impulsiveness subtraits assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-10), the trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and the topographic distribution of visual N100 augmenting/reducing (AR) was examined. Topographic event-related potential (ERP) data were collected from an array of 14 electrodes covering the left side of the head while subjects counted the total number of light flashes presented at two different but equiprobable intensities. Principal components analysis of the ERP data yielded a factor accounting for 13.9% of the total variance around the grand mean waveform that corresponded to the N100 wave clearly visible in the raw waveforms. For each subject by scalp locus combination, an AR score was computed by subtracting the factor score associated with the bright flashes from the factor score associated with the dim flashes. The correlations between AR scores and scores on the BIS-10 cognitive impulsiveness subscale were significant ( P < 0.01) at all scalp loci with the exception of the extreme frontal and occipital poles. Correlations with the BIS-10 motor impulsiveness subscale had a similar scalp distribution. Correlations with the BIS-10 non-planning impulsiveness subscale were significant over the frontal third of the scalp, including the frontal pole. Trait anxiety was not significantly related at the 0.01 level to AR scores. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Age and Sex Differences on the State-Trait Personality Inventory

The State-Trait Personality Inventory was administered to 150 volunteers whose ages ranged from 21 to 83 yr. Participants were placed into one of three groups on the basis of their chronological age: young adults (21 to 39 yr.), middle-age (49 to 59 yr.), and old (60 to 83 yr.). Analysis indicated no significant main effects for age group on any of the six subscales with education statistically controlled. Significant sex differences were found on the Trait Anxiety Scale; women had higher trait anxiety. There was no significant interaction of sex and age. Implications of results were discussed.

Anger and anxiety in borderline hypertension.

Psychologic studies of hypertension have usually focused on the relationship of anger and anxiety to clinic or laboratory blood pressure (BP). Yet, average blood pressure outside of the clinic has proven to be a more important predictor of hypertensive complications. In this study, we have isolated two groups of borderline hypertensives--one group that maintained high blood pressure outside of the clinic and another whose average BP returned to normal at home. All 33 subjects were given psychometric instruments for measuring various components of anger and anxiety: Spielberger's State-Trait Personality Inventory, the Anger Expression Scale, and the State Anger Reaction Scale. The high home BP group reported greater intensity of anger, although they suppressed their expression of anger to a greater extent. The groups did not differ in anxiety. Also, blood pressure variability was not different between the two groups. It is suggested that the psychologic differences found in the group of higher-risk borderline hypertensives may, through autonomic arousal, contribute to the later development of established hypertension.

Dental outpatients: health locus of control correlates.

Examined relationships between the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales, Beck Depression Inventory, Trait subscales of the State-Trait Personality Inventory, and dental ratings of oral hygiene and presence of periodontal disease with dental outpatients (N = 101) at a Veterans Administration Medical Center Dental Clinic. Results indicated that this sample of outpatients scored comparably on MHLC Health Internality and Health Externality to a sample reported by Wallston and Wallston. Older dental patients, in the present sample, scored significantly higher on Powerful Others Externality in contrast to younger Ss, which suggests greater reliance on health professionals for dental health. Confirmatory evidence is presented on the negative correlations of depression, anger, and anxiety with Health Internality. Differential approaches to dental treatment are discussed.

Development of a questionnaire measure of emotional control

A questionnaire measure of emotional control was developed to evaluate the extent to which individuals report controlling anger, anxiety and depressed mood. Scale items were derived from responses to semi-structured clinical interviews with patients who were awaiting breast biopsy. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability data are reported, as well as correlations with the Marlowe-Crowne, the Spielberger State-Trait Personality Inventory, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and the Bortner Type A Behaviour Scale. Although intended for use with breast cancer patients this scale is envisaged to have wider application to other clinical populations.

Personality and smoking behavior.

Investigated the relationship between selected personality measures and the initiation and maintenance of smoking behavior. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI) and a Smoking Behavior Questionnaire were administered to 955 students (603 females; 352 males). Smokers had significantly higher scores than Nonsmokers on the EPQ Extraversion, Neuroticism and Psychoticism scales, and lower scores on the Lie Scale. Female Smokers had higher STPI Trait Anxiety scores than Nonsmokers, whereas male Smokers had lower anxiety scores than Nonsmokers. Female Current Smokers had lower Neuroticism and Trait Anxiety scores than Occasional and Ex-Smokers, and Ex-Smokers of both sexes had higher scores on the STPI Trait Curiosity scale than Current and Occasional Smokers. It was concluded that the initiation and maintenance of smoking behavior are influenced by different personality factors.

An Assessment of Anxiety in Instrumental and Vocal Performances

This study investigated the effect of anxiety in musical performance and assessed the quality of subjects' performances under enhanced and reduced anxious situations. Ninety subjects, 15 in each of five instrumental areas and one vocal area, performed one composition of their choice in an enhanced and a reduced anxiety condition. All performances were recorded. Three adjudicators evaluated recorded performances for musical quality. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the State-Trait Personality Inventory were administered to determine state and trait anxiety, curiosity, and anger under both performance conditions. A questionnaire was administered to collect additional data. From analyses of the data, it was found that performance condition with subjects' years of formal training was significantly related in its effect on judged performance quality (p &lt; .05); subjects with high trait anxiety and curiosity exhibited significant increases in state anxiety and curiosity (p &lt; .05); and subjects performing in enhanced anxiety situations exhibited significant increases in state anxiety and anger (p &lt; .05).

Personality Variables in Alcohol Abuse in College Students

The relationship between specific personality variables and alcohol abuse in college students were examined. Ninety-seven undergraduate college students were administered the trait portions of the State-Trait Personality Inventory and the Student Drinking Questionnaire. Results of stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that these personality variables were not strong predictors of alcohol abuse in this population. However, subjects who were identified as being highly trait anxious or trait angry were significantly more likely to abuse alcohol than subjects low on these variables.