The Effects of Time Pressure on Arithmetic Performance

It has recently been demonstrated that highly math-anxious individuals may be less proficient on arithmetic tasks, particularly those that involve complex problems. The processing efficiency theory postulates that in highly anxious individuals, working memory resources are consumed by “worry,” thereby leaving fewer resources available for task completion. Although there is some empirical support for this theory, the precise nature of this worry has yet to be identified. We tested the hypothesis that time pressure may be one component contributing to worry, and subsequent performance deficits characteristic of high math-anxious individuals. Thirty participants completed arithmetic problems of varying complexity in both a timed and untimed condition. Although the timing manipulation negatively affected arithmetic performance in both high and low anxious participants, anxiety groups were not differentially affected. Researchers may therefore have to look to other variables to explain the nature of worrisome thoughts that are theorized to disrupt the performance of anxious individuals.