Neuroticism Negatively Affects Multitasking Performance through State Anxiety

Abstract

Multitasking is on the rise, both at work and at home. As such, researchers have begun to focus attention on understanding and predicting multitasking performance. Though past research has demonstrated that cognitive predictors correlate positively with multitasking performance, there is reason to believe that non-cognitive factors are likely to predict such performance as well. This study tested for relationships between extraversion, neuroticism, Type A Behavior Pattern, polychronicity, and multitasking performance. Results supported the hypothesis that neuroticism, but not the other personality characteristics measured, significantly predicts performance at multitasking, and that this relationship is mediated by state anxiety experienced during multitasking. Implications for the impact of personality and anxiety on multitasking performance are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA494159

Entities

People

  • Elizabeth M. Poposki
  • Frederick L. Oswald
  • Hubert T. Chen

Organizations

  • Navy Personnel Research, Studies, and Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Applied Psychology
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Workload
  • Decoding
  • Information Overload
  • Information Processing
  • Instructors
  • Military Research
  • Motor Skills
  • Natural Languages
  • Naval Personnel
  • Personality
  • Psychology
  • Simulations
  • Social Psychology
  • Students
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.