Anxiety Selectively Increases Information-Seeking in Response to Large Changes

Abstract

Background: Seeking information when anxious may help reduce the aversive feeling of uncertainty and guide decision-making. If information is negative or confusing, however, this may further increase anxiety. Information gathered under anxiety can thus be beneficial and/or damaging. Here, we examine whether anxiety generally increases information-seeking, or rather selectively alters the type of information sought depending on the situation. Methods: In two lab studies, participants completed an information-seeking task designed to dissociate general from selective information-seeking tendencies, while anxiety was assessed through self-reported trait anxiety (Study a, N=42) or manipulated using a variation of the Trier Social Stress Test (Study b, N=48). Results: Both trait anxiety and induced anxiety led to a selective increase in information-seeking. In particular, anxiety did not enhance the general tendency to seek information, nor did it alter the valence of the information gathered. Rather, anxiety increased information-seeking specifically in response to large changes in the environment (trait anxiety: p=0.03, induced anxiety: p=0.02). This was true even though the cause of the anxiety was unrelated to the information sought. Conclusions: As anxious individuals have difficulty in learning under changing environments, greater information-seeking in such environments may be an adaptive compensatory mechanism.