Abstract

Andrew P. Smith, PhD*

ABSTRACT

Background: Research has investigated the associations between psychosocial factors and measures derived from focused attention and categoric search tasks. The present study continued this line of research with the psychosocial factors being extraversion, social support and anxiety and depression. The effects of age and time of testing were also investigated. Method: Two hundred and seventy staff or students (159 females, 113 males; mean age 35.4 years, age range 17-65 years) from Cardiff University participated in the study. They completed the tasks between 11.00-13.00 or 16.00-18.00. Participants carried out a focused attention two-choice reaction time task and a categoric search task. The main outcomes of interest were mean reaction times, errors, lapses of attention, selective attention measures, the speed of encoding new information, and response organisation. Results: Anxiety and depression were associated with more errors, whereas extraversion and high social support were associated with faster reaction times. Older participants responded more slowly but more accurately. Responses were faster later in the day. The effects of the psychosocial factors were no longer significant when age and time of day were included in the analyses. Conclusion: Initial analyses showed significant effects of psychosocial factors and of age and time of day. Age and time of day remained significant when all factors were included in the analyses. This demonstrates the importance of controlling for age and time of testing in studies using these tasks.