An Empirical Examination of Individual Traits as Antecedents to Computer Anxiety and Computer Self-Efficacy

To better understand how individual differences influence the use of information technoiogy (IT), this study models and tests relationships among dynamic, IT-specific individual differences (i.e.. computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety). stable, situation-specific traits (i.e., personal innovativeness in IT) and stable, broad traits (i.e.. ''Cynthia Beath was the accepting senior editor for this paper. trait anxiety and negative affectivity). When compared to broad traits, the model suggests that situation-specific traits exert a more pervasive influence on IT situation-specific individual differences. Further, the modei suggests that computer anxiety mediates the influence of situationspecific traits (i.e., personal innovativeness) on computer self-efficacy. Results provide support for many of the hypothesized relationships. From a theoretical perspective, the findings help to further our understanding of the nomological network among individual differences that lead to computer self-efficacy. From a practical perspective, the findings may help IT managers design training programs that more effectiveiy increase the computer self-efficacy of users with different dispositional characteristics.