Emotional Cost, Psychological Cost, and Anxiety: Disentangling Their Relations

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: Motivation in Education SIG Poster Session: Motivational Processes and Effects (San Diego)

Abstract

Across two studies, we examined the structural, discriminant, and predictive validity of emotional cost, psychological cost, and anxiety. In both samples, our results indicated that these three constructs formed distinct yet related factors. In Study 2, we also found that emotional cost and anxiety predicted STEM students’ academic achievement and course-taking intentions in similar ways, whereas psychological cost predicted neither outcomes. Our findings suggested that future research on the topic of cost should consider making the distinction between emotional and psychological cost. Another implication is that emotional cost and negative emotions such as anxiety may operate in a sequential order when it comes to influencing academic outcomes.

Authors

• Yuchen Song, University of Georgia - Athens

• Emily Quinn Rosenzweig, University of Georgia

• Michael M. Barger, University of Georgia - Athens