How Trait Self-Control and Religiosity Relate to Trait Anxiety

Introduction (from my Masters in Psychology

research)

Trait anxiety refers to a relatively stable disposition to perceive situations as threatening and to respond with heightened worry and emotional reactivity across contexts (Spielberger, 1983). Elevated trait anxiety has been associated with impaired cognitive functioning, attentional bias towards threat, and increased vulnerability to psychological distress (Eysenck et al., 2007). Identifying factors that may reduce or regulate trait anxiety remains an important focus in psychological research.

One construct consistently associated with adaptive functioning is trait self-control. Trait self-control reflects an individual’s capacity to regulate impulses, emotions, and behaviours in line with longer-term goals (Tangney et al., 2004). Individuals with higher trait self-control demonstrate improved emotional regulation, reduced impulsivity, and greater resilience under stress (Baumeister et al., 2007). Empirical studies have shown that higher levels of trait self-control are associated with lower levels of anxiety and more effective coping strategies (Englert et al., 2011; Bertrams et al., 2013). These findings suggest that self-control may function as a protective factor in relation to trait anxiety.

The role of religiosity in relation to anxiety is more complex. A substantial body of literature suggests that religion may support psychological well-being through mechanisms such as meaning-making, social support, and structured coping strategies (Koenig et al., 1993; Coruh et al., 2005). Meta-analytic and systematic review evidence indicates that religiosity is often associated with reduced symptoms of both state and trait anxiety (Forouhari et al., 2019; Stewart et al., 2019). However, this relationship is not uniform. Research has also demonstrated that religious struggle, moral conflict, or rigid belief systems may contribute to increased anxiety in some individuals (Ellison et al., 2013; Zarzycka et al., 2019). As such, religiosity may not exert a simple direct effect on anxiety, but may operate in more nuanced and context-dependent ways.

Despite the extensive literature on trait self-control and religiosity independently, relatively little research has examined how these constructs interact in relation to trait anxiety. This gap is notable, as religiosity may reinforce behavioural regulation through structured practices and value systems, potentially enhancing self-control processes (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009). Conversely, self-control may influence how individuals engage with religious practices and interpret stress-related experiences.

The present study builds on this gap by examining the independent and interactive effects of trait self-control and religiosity on trait anxiety. Specifically, it investigates whether religiosity moderates the relationship between trait self-control and trait anxiety. Based on existing literature, it was hypothesised that higher trait self-control would be associated with lower trait anxiety, that religiosity may influence trait anxiety, and that an interaction effect between these constructs would be observed.

Method

Participants

Participants were recruited using snowball sampling and consisted of colleagues, acquaintances, and professional contacts of the researcher. The final sample included 44 adults (N = 44), comprising 24 females and 20 males, aged between 18 and 74 years (M = 44.48, SD = 11.30). Participants were geographically distributed across Switzerland (50%), the United Kingdom (8%), the United States (12%), Australia (10%), Germany (5%), Canada (5%), and New Zealand (10%).

Participation was voluntary, and all participants provided informed consent following review of the study information and ethical procedures. Data were collected in accordance with institutional ethical guidelines.

Design

A 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design was employed. The dependent variable was trait anxiety. The independent variables were trait self-control and religiosity, each with two levels (low and high). A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the main effects and interaction effect of these variables on trait anxiety.

Measures

Trait anxiety was measured using the trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), a widely used instrument assessing stable anxiety tendencies (Spielberger, 1983). The scale consists of 20 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale.

Trait self-control was measured using the Tangney Self-Control Scale (SCS), a validated 36-item instrument assessing dispositional self-regulation (Tangney et al., 2004). The scale demonstrates strong internal consistency and has been widely used in psychological research (Hagger et al., 2008).

Religiosity was measured using the Belief into Action Scale (BIAC), which assesses religious commitment through behavioural engagement, including prayer, time investment, and prioritisation of religious activities (Koenig, 2015; Wang et al., 2016).

Procedure

Participants completed an online questionnaire hosted via Gorilla software, which included demographic questions followed by the STAI, SCS, and BIAC measures. Data were collected anonymously and stored securely.

Scores for each scale were calculated according to standard scoring procedures. Trait self-control and religiosity scores were recoded into low and high groups using median splits for the purpose of factorial analysis. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS.

Results

Descriptive statistics indicated that trait anxiety scores ranged from 34 to 78, with a mean of 61.80 (SD = 9.86). The distribution of trait anxiety approximated normality based on inspection of central tendency and dispersion.

The main effect of religiosity on trait anxiety was not statistically significant, F(1, 40) = 2.27, p = .14. This suggests that religiosity alone did not significantly predict trait anxiety in this sample.

Trait self-control demonstrated a significant main effect on trait anxiety, F(1, 40) = 39.79, p < .001, indicating that levels of self-control were associated with differences in trait anxiety.

Importantly, a statistically significant interaction effect between trait self-control and religiosity was observed, F(1, 40) = 4.94, p = .032. This finding indicates that the relationship between self-control and trait anxiety differed across levels of religiosity, suggesting a moderating effect.

Discussion

The findings from this study indicate that trait self-control plays a significant role in relation to trait anxiety, supporting previous research demonstrating that self-regulatory capacity is associated with reduced anxiety (Englert et al., 2011; Bertrams et al., 2013). Individuals with higher self-control may be better able to regulate emotional responses, inhibit maladaptive cognitive patterns, and maintain behavioural stability under stress.

Religiosity, in contrast, did not demonstrate a significant main effect on trait anxiety. This finding aligns with literature suggesting that the psychological impact of religion is not uniform and may depend on contextual and individual factors (Ellison et al., 2013; Zarzycka et al., 2019). Rather than acting as a direct predictor, religiosity may operate through more complex pathways.

The most significant finding of this study was the interaction between trait self-control and religiosity. This suggests that religiosity may modify the relationship between self-control and anxiety. One possible explanation is that religious frameworks reinforce behavioural regulation and self-discipline, thereby enhancing self-control processes (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009). Alternatively, religiosity may provide cognitive and emotional frameworks that influence how individuals interpret and manage stress.

This interaction highlights the importance of examining psychological constructs in combination rather than isolation. While previous research has largely examined self-control and religiosity separately, the present findings suggest that their interaction may provide a more nuanced understanding of trait anxiety.

Conclusion

This study contributes to the growing body of research examining factors associated with trait anxiety by demonstrating the importance of trait self-control and the moderating role of religiosity. While religiosity alone did not significantly predict trait anxiety, its interaction with self-control suggests a more complex relationship. These findings highlight the need for further research examining how self-regulatory and belief-based systems interact in shaping psychological outcomes.

APA 7 Reference List

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