The role of temperament and character dimensions in predicting state-trait anxiety in high school students

Studies advocate the role of temperament factors in development and persistence of anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the role of temperament and character dimensions in predicting the state-trait anxiety in high school students. In this study, the statistical population consisted of all high school students (N=3416). One hundred and eighty students were selected randomly from this population by using multistage cluster sampling. They were asked to complete state-trait anxiety inventory, and cloninger's temperament and character inventory in the class in presence of the researcher. The findings of correlation analysis showed that anxiety was positively correlated with novelty seeking, harm avoidance, and reward dependence, while it was negatively correlated with persistence, cooperativeness, and self-directedness. The results of regression analysis indicated that 60% of variance of anxiety was explained by temperament and character dimensions. Based on the results of this study, temperament and character dimensions can provide a kind of predisposition for anxiety and can be used to identify anxiety symptoms in early stages.