Negative Life Stress and Anxiety: Problem Solving as a Moderator Variable

The present study evaluated the moderating role that social problem solving would serve in relation to negative life stress and both state and trait anxiety. 310 university students completed the Life Experience Survey, the Problem Solving Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multiple regression analyses supported problem solving as a moderator variable and confirmed previous research in which a significant relationship was obtained between negative life events and anxiety. Also neither state nor trait anxiety was related to positive life events.