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Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
An effect of posture on anticipatory anxiety
Darren M Lipnicki1, Don G Byrne
1School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. darrenlipnicki@hotmail.com
Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of body posture on state anxiety and psychological stress. Twenty normal adults performed a demanding mental arithmetic task in both standing and supine conditions, with subjective measures of anxiety and stress obtained before, immediately, and 10 min after the task. Participants were found to experience anticipatory anxiety when standing, although not when supine. The mechanism underlying this effect remains to be determined, although it could involve a postural difference in baroreceptor load.
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