Therapist warmth and status in the systematic desensitization of test anxiety

• Published in: Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 178 - 184
• Main Authors: Ryan, Victor L, Moses, James A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Division of Psychotherapy , American Psychological Association 01-01-1979; Educational Publishing Foundation
• Subjects: Anxiety; Human; Personality Traits; Social Reinforcement; Status; Systematic Desensitization Therapy; Test Anxiety; Therapist Characteristics; Treatment Effectiveness Evaluation
• ISSN: 0033-3204; 1939-1536
• DOI: 10.1037/h0086045

Randomly assigned 20 test-anxious undergraduates (as determined by the Sarason-Ganzer Test Anxiety Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) to 4 systematic desensitization conditions, representing 2 levels each of therapist warmth and status. Ratings by treated Ss and independent judges confirmed that the experimental warmth and status manipulations had been successful. Comparisons with 10 untreated, high test anxiety control Ss indicate that treated Ss evidenced significantly greater reductions in both test and trait anxiety. With treated Ss, changes in both test and trait anxiety were greatest in the 2 higher warmth conditions. There were no significant effects of therapist status. Ss ratings of satisfaction with treatment and likelihood of return to desensitization treatment should new problems occur were also highest in the 2 higher warmth conditions. Reasons for the differential effectiveness of the warmth and status factors are discussed. (32 ref)