State-Trait Anxiety and Biofeedback Mediated Control of Peripheral Vasomotor Responses

Abstract

42 undergraduates completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and then received biofeedback for increases in index finger-skin temperature. Subjects with high-trait anxiety increased their temperature significantly more than subjects with low-trait anxiety. No significant differences were found among state anxiety groups. The results supported the conclusion that predisposition to anxiety (trait), and not situational (state) anxiety, improves peripheral vasomotor control.