The implicit memory bias during pandemic COVID-19 in university students

ABSTRACT

The Covid-19 pandemic has been causing mental health problems, one of which is anxiety. The cognitive model theory state bias in implicit memory plays a significant role in causing a person to experience intense anxiety and severity. This study aimed to examine the effect of stimulus presentation (threatening & non-threatening) on implicit memory bias in the anxious and non-anxious participants. This study used a factorial experimental research design and used the Psycopy version 3 program to create computer-based experimental manipulations. A total of 46 participants (22 anxious and 24 non-anxious) of college students joined this research. A computer-based Word Stem Completion Test (WSCT) used for measuring implicit memory bias and STAI for participants selection. A two-way ANOVA (2x2) with JASP software to test the hypothesis. The results showed that there was an effect of the presentation of the stimulus on implicit memory bias. The presentation of a threatening stimulus caused implicit memory bias in both groups (anxious and non-anxious).The implication study results will be discussed in more detail in the discussion. © IEOM Society International.