Examining the Effects of Anxiety on Running Efficiency in a Cognitive-motor Dual-task

• Main Author: Dovan, Mai-Linh
• Format: Others
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/977772/1/DovanML_4167023_MScThesis_A.pdf; Dovan, Mai-Linh <http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/view/creators/Dovan=3AMai-Linh=3A=3A.html> (2013) Examining the Effects of Anxiety on Running Efficiency in a Cognitive-motor Dual-task. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

ABSTRACT Examining the Effects of Anxiety on Running Efficiency in a Cognitive-motor Dual-task Mai-Linh Dovan Dual-tasking is commonly defined as performing two tasks simultaneously and is commonplace in simple activities of daily living such as walking across the street while talking on a cell phone. When even simple motor tasks such as standing or walking are coupled with a mental task (cognitive-motor dual-task), performance of one or both tasks decreases because total available attention is limited. Dual-task performance has been shown to be affected by anxiety created by a physically threatening or disturbing environment. This can be explained by the attention-consuming effect of anxiety. Few studies have examined whether “performance anxiety” may have similar effects. This study examined the effects of performance-related anxiety on running when performed concurrently with a math task. Twenty-nine healthy university level students participated voluntarily in this study. Participants ran on a treadmill at a 20% increase from their self-selected pace while simultaneously subtracting 7 continuously from a randomly assigned 3-digit number. Each participant was subjected to the no-anxiety and anxiety conditions. Changes in stride length and stride frequency were analyzed using a Repeated Measures ANOVA with a significance level of  = 0.05. Results were inconclusive, as analyses on anxiety showed that it was not successfully induced. Further studies should consider characteristics of the sample in order to create an experimental protocol capable of inducing population-specific anxiety.