Avaliação da ansiedade e do julgamento clínico de graduandos em enfermagem submetidos à simulação clínica / Anxiety and clinical judgment assessment of nursing undergraduates undergoing clinical simulation

Resumo: A simulação clínica é uma estratégia de ensino eficaz para que o estudante de enfermagem desenvolva o julgamento clínico. No entanto causa ansiedade, sendo importante compreender a melhor forma de utilizá-la. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral avaliar o efeito da repetição de um mesmo cenário de simulação clínica de alta fidelidade na ansiedade e no julgamento clínico do estudante de graduação em enfermagem. Desenvolveu-se um ensaio clínico randomizado, com estudantes de graduação em enfermagem matriculados do quinto ao nono período, em uma universidade pública do sul do Brasil, entre 2018 e 2020. Após assistirem uma aula teórica sobre rebaixamento do nível de consciência, os estudantes participaram de um cenário de simulação clínica sobre a temática. Ao final da simulação foram randomizados para grupo controle, que realizou o cenário uma única vez, e grupo intervenção que repetiu o mesmo cenário duas vezes. Os participantes da pesquisa responderam ao Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado antes e depois dos cenários, e avaliaram o debriefing por meio da Escala de Experiência com o Debriefing. Para a avaliação do julgamento clínico utilizou-se a Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric - Brazilian Version. A amostra analisada foi de 34 estudantes, sendo 18 do grupo controle e 16 do grupo intervenção. Os grupos eram homogêneos e em sua maioria jovens, do sexo feminino, matriculados no oitavo e nono períodos. O grupo intervenção apresentou significativamente menos ansiedade antes (p=0,0036) e depois (p=0,0003) da simulação comparado ao controle. Na comparação intragrupo, no grupo intervenção houve redução significativa da ansiedade em dois momentos, depois da segunda simulação (p=0,0391), comparada ao antes da segunda simulação, e depois da segunda simulação (p=0,0070) comparada ao depois da primeira. Antes da primeira simulação 25% do grupo intervenção apresentou ansiedade baixa, depois da segunda simulação, 68,75% apresentavam baixa ansiedade. Na comparação geral do julgamento clínico, o grupo intervenção apresentou desempenho significativamente melhor (p=0,0011) que o controle, e na análise intragrupo houve melhora significativa (p=0,0004) ao repetirem o cenário. Na primeira simulação, houve maior frequência de julgamento clínico em desenvolvimento nos dois grupos. No entanto, ao repetir o cenário, 56,25% do grupo intervenção apresentou nível proficiente de julgamento clínico. A correlação entre julgamento clínico e ansiedade foi fraca e negativa, mas melhores julgamentos foram demonstrados quando o nível de ansiedade era baixo ou moderado. Para o grupo intervenção o debriefing foi significativamente melhor (p=0,0378), quando comparado ao controle. Conclui-se que a repetição de um mesmo cenário contribuiu significativamente para a redução da ansiedade antes e depois da simulação e para um melhor julgamento clínico, comparado a uma única sessão de simulação, o que sugere que repetir o mesmo cenário pode favorecer a aprendizagem, o desenvolvimento da capacidade de julgamento clínico e reduzir a ansiedade dos estudantes na simulação. A avaliação do debriefing mostrou ser importante, e obteve médias altas de avaliação nos dois grupos, mas ao repetir o cenário, os estudantes avaliaram significativamente melhor esta etapa.

Abstract: Clinical simulation is an effective teaching strategy for nursing undergraduates to develop clinical judgment. However, it causes anxiety, and it is important to understand the best way to use it. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the repetition of the same scenario of high fidelity clinical simulation in the anxiety and clinical judgment of nursing undergraduates. A randomized clinical trial was developed, with nursing students enrolled from the fifth to the ninth period, in a public university in the South of Brazil between 2018 and 2020. After attending a theoretical class on conscience loss, the students participated in a clinical simulation scenario about this theme. At the end of the simulation, they were randomized to a control group, which performed the scenario only once, and an intervention group that repeated the same scenario twice. Research participants responded to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after the scenarios, and assessed debriefing using the Debriefing Experience Scale. For the evaluation of clinical judgment, Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric - Brazilian Version was used. The sample comprised 34 students, 18 from the control group and 16 from the intervention group. The groups were homogeneous and mostly entailed young females, enrolled in the eighth and ninth periods. The intervention group showed significantly less anxiety before (p = 0.0036) and after (p = 0.0003) the simulation compared to the control group. In the intra-group comparison, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in anxiety in two moments: after the second simulation (p = 0.0391) compared to before the second simulation, and after the second simulation (p = 0.0070) compared to after the first one. Before the first simulation, 25% of the intervention group had low anxiety, and after the second simulation, 68.75% had low anxiety. In the general comparison of the clinical judgment, the intervention group performed significantly better (p = 0.0011) than the control group, and in the intra-group analysis, there was significant improvement (p = 0.0004) when repeating the scenario. In the first simulation, there was a higher frequency of clinical judgment in development in both groups. However, by repeating the scenario, 56.25% of the intervention group showed a proficient level of clinical judgment. The correlation between clinical judgment and anxiety was weak and negative, but better clinical judgment was demonstrated when the level of anxiety was low or moderate. For the intervention group, debriefing was significantly better (p = 0.0378) when compared to the control group. It is concluded that the repetition of the same scenario significantly contributed to the reduction of anxiety before and after the simulation, as well as to better clinical judgment if compared to a single simulation session. This data suggests that by repeating the same scenario, learning can be improved, clinical judgment can be developed, and student anxiety can be reduced in the simulation. The debriefing assessment proved to be important, and obtained high averages of assessment in both groups, but when repeating the scenario, the students evaluated that step significantly better.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian version of the Reading Anxiety Scale: Short version / Tradução e adaptação cultural da versão brasileira da Reading Anxiety

Reading anxiety refers to a negative emotional reaction to the reading process that causes the individual to avoid activities involving reading. To date, there are no instruments to evaluate this construct validated for Brazilian children. This study presents the cultural adaptation of the short version of the Reading Anxiety Scale and the study of its psychometric properties. The adaptation was conducted following standardized procedures: translation of the instrument into Brazilian Portuguese; synthesis of translated versions; evaluation by expert referees; evaluation of the instrument by the target audience; back-translation; pilot study with a clinical sample; preparation of the Reading Anxiety Scale short version; pilot study with typically developed children and the instrument psychometric properties. Factor analisys was used to reduce the number of items of the original scale. The studies of internal consistency and convergent validity suggest initial evidence of validity for the use of this instrument to investigate reading anxiety in Brazilian children.

A ansiedade de leitura refere-se a uma reação emocional negativa em relação ao processo de leitura, que motiva o indivíduo a evitar tais atividades. Até o momento, não existem instrumentos para avaliar esse construto na população infantil brasileira. Este estudo apresenta a adaptação cultural da Reading Anxiety Scale na versão breve, bem como o estudo de suas propriedades psicométricas. A adaptação foi conduzida de forma padronizada: tradução do instrumento para o português brasileiro; síntese das versões traduzidas; avaliação por juízes experts; avaliação do instrumento pelo público alvo; retrotradução; estudo piloto com amostra clínica; elaboração da versão breve; estudo piloto com crianças com desenvolvimento típico; e propriedades psicométricas. A análise fatorial foi utilizada para reduzir o instrumento, e os estudos de consistência interna e validade convergente sugeriram que essa ferramenta possui evidências iniciais de validade para a investigação da ansiedade de leitura na população infantil brasileira.

Application of izof model for anxiety and self-efficacy in volleyball athletes: a case study / Aplicação do modelo izof para ansiedade e autoeficácia em atletas de voleibol: um estudo de caso / Aplicación del modelo izof a la ansiedad y autoeficacia en atletas de voleibol: un estudio de caso

ABSTRACT Introduction: The relation between psychological variables and their influence on athletic performance have been considered a crucial differential at important time points of the season. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the validity of the IZOF model from a multidimensional perspective of anxiety, and to investigate the possibility of extending the IZOF theory to the self-efficacy construct. Methods: Seven male professional volleyball players participated in the study. The Individual Self-Efficacy Scale for Volleyball and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory - 2 reduced version were answered by the players before all matches throughout a season. At the end of each match, athletic performance was obtained through the Data Volley program. Results: The results showed the IZOF of self-efficacy and of each subscale of anxiety for the professional team athletes who participated in more than 10 matches during the season. The athletes showed significant variability in scores, ranging from 3 to 5 points for cognitive anxiety, 2 to 7 points for somatic anxiety, 2 to 14 points for self-confidence, and 12 to 54 points for self-efficacy. The findings also indicated that IZOFs are different in an intra- and inter-individual way. We also observed that the number of matches, in percentages across all zones (below, in, and above the IZOF), indicated that Middle Blocker 1 and Opposite 1 presented the best profiles among the 7 players analyzed, as all their variables are in the IZOF zone in the majority of matches, a fact that represents a desired profile for these athletes. Conclusion: Through the analysis of the data, we can attest to the applicability of the IZOF theory for professional volleyball athletes from the multidimensional perspective of anxiety and the possibility of extending the theory to the self-efficacy construct in an attempt to predict the performance of volleyball athletes from this variable. Level of evidence IV; Case series.

RESUMO Introdução: A relação entre as variáveis psicológicas e a sua influência no desempenho esportivo tem sido considerada um diferencial essencial em períodos importantes da temporada. Objetivos: Examinar a validade do modelo IZOF (Zona Individual de Desempenho Ideal), a partir de uma perspectiva multidimensional da ansiedade e investigar a possibilidade de ampliar a teoria IZOF ao construto da autoeficácia. Métodos: Sete atletas masculinos de voleibol profissional participaram do estudo. A Escala de Autoeficácia Individual para o Voleibol e o Competitive State Anxiety Inventory 2 - versão reduzida foram respondidos pelos jogadores antes de todas as partidas durante uma temporada. No final de cada partida, o desempenho dos atletas foi obtido através do programa Data Volley. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram a IZOF de autoeficácia e de cada subescala de ansiedade para os atletas profissionais que participaram de mais de 10 partidas durante a temporada. Os atletas apresentaram significativa variabilidade nos escores, variando de três a cinco pontos para ansiedade cognitiva, dois a sete pontos para a ansiedade somática, dois a 14 pontos para autoconfiança e 12 a 54 pontos para autoeficácia. Os resultados também indicaram que as IZOFs são diferentes de modo intra e interindividual. Observamos também que o número de partidas, em porcentagens em cada zona (abaixo, dentro e acima da IZOF), indicou que o Central 1 e o Oposto 1 apresentaram os melhores perfis entre os sete jogadores analisados, pois todas as suas variáveis estão na IZOF na maioria das partidas, um fato que representa o perfil desejado para esses atletas. Conclusão: Através da análise dos dados, podemos atestar a aplicabilidade da teoria IZOF para os atletas profissionais de voleibol na perspectiva multidimensional de ansiedade e a possibilidade de ampliar a teoria ao construto da autoeficácia na tentativa de predizer o desempenho de atletas de voleibol por meio dessa variável. Nível de evidência IV; Série de casos.

RESUMEN Introducción: La relación entre las variables psicológicas y su influencia en el desempeño deportivo se ha considerado un diferencial esencial en períodos importantes de la temporada. Objetivos: Examinar la validez del modelo IZOF (Zona Individual de Desempeño Ideal) a partir de una perspectiva multidimensional de la ansiedad e investigar la posibilidad de ampliar la teoría IZOF al constructo de autoeficacia. Métodos: Siete atletas masculinos de voleibol profesional participaron en el estudio. La Escala de Autoeficacia Individual para el Voleibol y el Competitive State Anxiety Inventory 2 - versión reducida fueron respondidos por los jugadores antes de todos los partidos disputados durante una temporada. Al final de cada partido, el desempeño de los atletas fue obtenido a través del programa Data Volley. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron la IZOF de autoeficacia y de cada subescala de ansiedad para los atletas profesionales que participaron en más de 10 partidos durante la temporada. Los atletas presentaron significativa variabilidad en las puntuaciones, variando de tres a cinco puntos para la ansiedad cognitiva, dos a siete puntos para la ansiedad somática, dos a 14 puntos para la autoconfianza y 12 a 54 puntos para la autoeficacia. Los resultados también indicaron que las IZOF son diferentes de modo intra e interindividual. También observamos que el número de partidos, en porcentajes en cada zona (debajo, dentro y arriba de la IZOF), indicó que el Central 1 y el Opuesto 1 presentaron los mejores perfiles entre los siete jugadores analizados, ya que todas sus variables están en la IZOF en la mayoría de los partidos, un hecho que representa el perfil deseado para esos atletas. Conclusión: A través del análisis de los datos podemos confirmar la aplicabilidad de la teoría IZOF para atletas profesionales de voleibol en la perspectiva multidimensional de ansiedad y la posibilidad de ampliar la teoría al constructo de autoeficacia en la tentativa de predecir el desempeño de atletas de voleibol por medio de esa variable. Nivel de evidencia IV; Serie de casos.

Associations between competitive anxiety, athlete characteristics and sport context: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background: There is a vast literature investigating the possible associations between competitive anxiety, athlete variables and sports context. As far as we are concerned, there is no study which has compiled such findings to produce more robust evidence on this topic. Objectives: The aim of the study was to conduct an exploratory systematic review of the literature followed by a meta-analysis in order to investigate possible associations between competitive anxiety, social-demographic characteristics, profile of the athlete and sports context. Methods: Systematic searches of PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Lilacs and SciELO electronic databases were performed to identify studies published between January 2006 and January 2018, including a manual search in the references of the selected studies. Results: A total of 59 studies were included for qualitative synthesis and 27 for meta-analysis. More robust associations were observed between competitive anxiety and female gender, lower age, and less experience time. Discussion: Knowing the variables which exert influence on competitive anxiety can be relevant to plan specific treatment and intervention programs, enabling the athlete's development beyond technical and physical preparation.

Niveles de ansiedad y percepción de rendimiento en intérpretes musicales / Levels of anxiety and perception of performance in musicians

Uno de los principales problemas que presentan los intérpretes musicales, tanto estudiantes como profesionales, es la ansiedad escénica. En la Argentina, no hay cifras precisas ni estudios recientes sobre la ansiedad en músicos. Por este motivo, el presente estudio se propone indagar los niveles de ansiedad de músicos de una banda sinfónica de Capital Federal y analizar la percepción de su influencia en el rendimiento. Objetivo: Investigar si los músicos experimentan ansiedad ante una presentación y de qué forma los niveles de ansiedad en los músicos influyen su rendimiento en la presentación. Método: Veinte músicos de una banda sinfónica completaron el Inventario K-MPAI y un cuestionario elaborado ad hoc. Resultados: Existen indicadores de ansiedad en los músicos aunque no hubo una correlación con el rendimiento percibido. Conclusiones: Se encontró que la preocupación relativa a la ejecución responde a un mayor nivel de ansiedad (en comparación a los factores hereditarios y ambientales y la vulnerabilidad psicológica). Para futuras investigaciones, se recomienda trabajar con una muestra más representativa.

One of the main problems presented by musicians, both students and professionals, is music performance anxiety. In Argentina, there are no precise figures or recent studies about anxiety in musicians. For this reason, the present study aims to investigate the anxiety levels of musicians of a wind band located in Buenos Aires and analyse the perception of their influence on performance. Objective: Investigate if musicians experience anxiety before a presentation and how the levels of anxiety influence their performance. Method: Twenty musicians from a wind band completed the K-MPAI Inventory and a questionnaire prepared ad hoc. Results: There are indicators of anxiety in musicians although there was no correlation with the perceived performance level. Conclusions: Concern over performance was found to respond to a higher level of anxiety (compared to hereditary and environmental factors and psychological vulnerability). For future research, it is recommended to work with a more representative sample.

Music performance anxiety: a critical review of etiological aspects, perceived causes, coping strategies and treatment

Abstract Background Music performance anxiety (MPA) is understood as a sub-type of social anxiety and is characterised by fears of a musical presentation. Objective To carry out a critical literature review on clinical and etiological aspects, perceived causes, coping strategies and treatment of MPA. Methods Electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO and Lilacs as well as specific periodicals were used based on the key-words symptoms, diagnosis, aetiology, perceived causes, coping strategies and treatment. Results MPA is highly prevalent among musicians (> 16%), regardless of culture and formation. Cognitive, behavioural and physiological factors are associated with the aetiology of MPA, including biological and psychological predispositions. In addition, one should highlight factors related to the individual, aspects related to tasks and musical situation as perceived causes and/or predictor variables of MPA. As for the coping strategies, one can also highlight the use of breathing/relaxing techniques, increased musical practice, use of homeopathy and substances without medical prescription. Discussion MPA is impacting in the musician's life. Despite the increasing interest in its study, it is necessary to better understand this complex phenomenon, mainly in the therapeutic context, in addition to the publicising and offering of services for prevention and treatment of MPA.

Interventions for music performance anxiety: results from a systematic literature review

Abstract Background Music performance anxiety (MPA) is characterised by fears related to performing music. It may result in damages to personal life and professional career, so treatment and prevention are very important. Objective To undertake a systematic literature review on the effectiveness/efficacy of MPA interventions and to integrate these findings to those in the literature reviewed previously. Methods We used PubMed, PsycINFO and SciELO databases and keywords music*, performance anxiety, treatment, therapy and intervention and manual research. We selected articles published between October-2002/July-2016. Results Out of 97 articles, 23 were reviewed. Sixteen studies presented inter-group experimental design, and seven presented pre-post experimental design. The intervention modalities reviewed were cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), virtual reality exposure, biofeedback, yoga, meditation, music therapy and the Alexander technique. Although the interventions presented some indicators of efficacy in the MPA outcomes and improvement in performance quality, important methodological limitations were observed: low number of individuals and non-specific criteria for their inclusion/exclusion. This reinforces previous findings regarding methodological fragilities associated with this context. Discussion CBT is the most frequently studied modality and with the greatest number of effectiveness indicators. The remaining modalities indicate tendencies in positive outcomes that require further and efficient investigation in more rigorous studies with greater methodological control.

Estresse, ansiedade, crenças de autoeficácia e o desempenho dos bacharéis em Direito / Stress, anxiety, self-confidence beliefs and the performance of Law Bachelors / Estrés, ansiedad, creencias de autoeficacia y el rendimiento de Licenciados en Derecho

Foram avaliados os níveis de estresse, ansiedade e as crenças de autoeficácia de 237 bacharéis em Direito, em fase de preparação para ingresso na Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil - OAB. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar as relações entre estresse, ansiedade e crenças de autoeficácia com o desempenho, nas duas fases do exame da Ordem. Os participantes responderam aos inventários de Ansiedade Traço-Estado do Spielberger - IDATE, ao Inventário de Stress de Lipp - ISSL e a um Inventário de Autoeficácia. Foram encontradas correlações positivas entre os níveis de estresse, ansiedade e crenças de autoeficácia. As correlações entre os parâmetros obtidos nesses inventários e o desempenho nos exames foram positivas para os graus de estresse e de ansiedade-traço. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que candidatos sem sintomas de estresse têm duas vezes mais chance de serem aprovados em relação a candidatos com estresse.

Stress, anxiety and the self-efficacy beliefs levels were evaluated in 237 Law bachelors in preparation phase to be admitted at Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil - OAB. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the relationships between stress, anxiety, and self- efficacy beliefs related to the performance on both phases of the OAB. The subjects who answered this research were students of preparatory courses to the OAB exam. The Shait-Trait Anxiety Inventory of Spielberger, Inventário de Sintomas de Stress de Lipp - ISSL and Self-Efficacy were employed. Positive correlations were found between levels of stress, anxiety and self-efficacy beliefs. The correlations between the parameters obtained in these inventories and examinations performance were positive for the stress index and trait anxiety. The results of this study showed that candidates without stress symptoms have a twofold chance to be approved on the test than the candidates with stress symptoms.

Fueron evaluados los niveles de estrés, ansiedad y las creencias de autoeficacia de 237 licenciados en Derecho, en fase de preparación para ingreso en la Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB). El objetivo de esta pesquisa fue evaluar las relaciones entre estrés, ansiedad y creencias de autoeficacia con el desempeño, en las dos fases del examen de la OAB. Los participantes respondieron a los inventarios de Ansiedad Trazo-Estado del Spielberger - IDATE, al Inventario de estrés de Lipp - ISSL y a un Inventario de Autoeficacia. Fueron encontradas correlaciones positivas entre los niveles de estrés, ansiedad y creencias de autoeficacia. Las correlaciones entre los parámetros obtenidos en esos inventarios y el desempeño en los exámenes fueron positivas para los grados de estrés y de ansiedad-trazo. Los resultados de este estudio demostraron que candidatos sin síntomas de estrés tienen dos veces más chances de seren aprobados en relación a candidatos con estrés.

Ansiedade na performance musical: tradução, adaptação e validação do Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) para a língua portuguesa / Music performance anxiety: translation, adaptation and validation of the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) to the Portuguese language

CONTEXTO: A performance musical requer alto nível de habilidade em diversos parâmetros, como coordenação motora, atenção e memória, o que a torna particularmente suscetível aos estados de ansiedade. Pesquisas nessa área têm avançado com a introdução de instrumentos específicos para abordar a ansiedade na performance musical, como é o caso da Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). OBJETIVOS: O presente estudo teve como objetivo traduzir, adaptar e validar a K-MPAI para a língua portuguesa. MÉTODOS: Após autorização da autora, a escala K-MPAI foi traduzida e validada. A escala em língua portuguesa foi aplicada a 218 músicos de ambos os sexos, amadores e profissionais. Para a validação concorrente, foi utilizado o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (IDATE), versão validada na língua portuguesa da State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTADOS: A análise da consistência interna apresentou alfa de Cronbach = 0,957 com p < 0,001, reprodutibilidade com p = 0,378 e validação concorrente com a IDATE com alfa de Cronbach = 0,642 e p < 0,001. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo permite considerar a amostra com graus de confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade elevados, o que traduz este estudo como provindo de uma amostra não tendenciada e replicável a outras populações. A validação concorrente entre a K-MPAI e a IDATE permite inferir que ambas as escalas são comparáveis na capacidade de medir os níveis de ansiedade em musicistas.

BACKGROUND: Musical performance demands high-leveled coordination, concentration, motor- and memory-skills, making it particularly susceptible to anxiety states. Researches in this field have advanced significantly with the development of specific instruments to evaluate music performance anxiety, such as the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). OBJECTIVES: The present study has the objective of translating, adapting and validating the K-MPAI to the Portuguese language. METHODS: After the written consent given by the author of the original K-MPAI scale, the K-MPAI scale was translated and validated for Portuguese idiom. The Portuguese-version of K-MPAI was then applied to 218 amateur and professional musicians of both genders. For the concurrent validation, the validated Portuguese-version of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used. RESULTS: Analysis of the internal consistency demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha = 0.957, with p < 0.001, replicated with p = 0.378 and the concurrent validation with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha = 0.642 and p < 0.001. DISCUSSION: The study allows evaluating data samples with high levels of reliability and replicability, which translates this study based on an unbiased sample and replicable to other populations. The concurrent validation between K-MPAI and IDATE, allows inferring that the scales are comparable in their capability of measuring anxiety levels in musicians.

The Effects of Achievement Self Discrepancy and Evaluative Threat Stress on Performance Anxiety / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study to examine if the levels of anxiety(emotional, cognitive, and behavioral measures) during performance are influenced by interaction of both achievement related self discrepancy(=psychological vulnerability variable) and evaluative threat stress(=stressor) based on vulnerabilitystress model in order to identify the mechanism of development of performance anxiety and furthermore to suggest psychological intervention strategies to reduce and prevent it effectively. METHOD: High and low self discrepancy subjects consisted of students from the upper(n=40) and lower 15%(n=40) on achievement related self discrepancy scale, respectively. They were randomly assigned to either evaluative threat condition or neutral condition, and then all subjects took intellective task(verbal reasoning test and digit symbol test). RESULTS: The results were as follows; 1) High self discrepancy subjects under evaluative threat reported significantly higher level of state anxiety during performance than low self discrepancy subjects under any condition and also experienced higher degreee of state anxiety with marginal significance than high self discrepancy subjects under neutral condition, whereas there were no significant effects on the anxiety level of group variable under neutral condition or of stress variable in low self discrepancy subjects. 2) High self discrepancy subjects reported more cognitive interference during performance than low self discrepancy subjects regardless of the level of stress. 3) High self discrepancy subjects performed marginally significantly more poorly in digit symbol test than low self discrepancy subjects regardless of the level of stress, whereas there were no significant effects on verbal reasoning test. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis that performance anxiety could be affected by achievement related self discrepancy and stress, and specially by interaction between self discrepancy and stress was relatively strongly supported by the results on emotional measure of performance anxiety. In addition, this hypothesis received partial support by the results on cognitive and behavioral measures. We might conclude that it is important to consider achievement-related self discrepancy and evaluative threat stress together to understand the mechanism of development of performance anxiety and to reduce or prevent this anxiety effectively.