Cognitive Test Anxiety and Cognitive Enhancement: The Influence of Students’ Worries on Their Use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs

Abstract

This online panel study (n_t1 = 5,882; n_t2 = 3,486 (randomly selected)) used multiple metrics to assess the prevalence of the nonmedical use of prescription medication for enhancing cognitive performance among German university students in 2010. Rare events logistic regression revealed that increased cognitive test anxiety increased the prevalence of medication use over various time windows. Negative binomial regression models showed that the higher the cognitive test anxiety, the higher the use frequencies were during the previous six months. The models controlled for expected side effects, risk attitudes, self-attributed competencies, prior medication use, sex, and age. We also discuss the study's implications.

RÉSUMÉ

Test cognitif sur l'anxiété, et amélioration cognitive: L'influence des inquiétudes des étudiants, sur leur utilisation de médicament pour améliorer leur performance intellectuelle

Cette étude panel en ligne (n_t1 = 5882; n_t2 = 3486 (choisi au hasard)) a utilisé des paramètres multiples, pour évaluer la prévalence de l'usage non médical de médicaments sur ordonnance, en vue de l'amélioration de la performance cognitive chez les étudiants universitaires allemands en 2010. La régression logistique d’événements rares a révélé qu'une augmentation cognitive de la peur des examens, a engendré une prévalence accrue de l'usage de médicaments, sur des fenêtres temporelles différentes. Des modèles de régression binomiale négative ont révélé que pendant les six mois précédents, plus les fréquences d'usage sont élevées, plus la peur cognitive des examens l'est. Les modèles ont contrôlé pour les effets secondaires attendus, les attitudes à risque, les compétences auto-attribuées, l'usage de médicaments précédent, le sexe et l’âge. Les implications de l’étude sont aussi abordées.

RESUMEN

Ansiedad cognitiva ante los ex´menes y mejoramiento cognitivo: La influencia de la ansiedad en el uso de drogas para mejorar el rendimiento por parte de estudiantes

Este estudio longitudinal en línea llevado a cabo con estudiantes universitarios en Alemania durante el año 2010 (n_t1 = 5,882; n_t2 = 3,486 (escogidos aleatoreamente)) evalúa mediante diversos indicadores la prevalencia del uso no médico de medicamentos recetados con el fin de elevar el rendimiento cognitivo. Regresiones logísticas para eventos poco comunes revelan que un incremento en la ansiedad cognitiva ante los exámenes eleva la prevalencia del uso de medicamentos en distintos intervalos de tiempo. Regresiones binomiales negativas muestran que una mayor ansiedad cognitiva ante los exámenes está relacionada con una mayor frecuencia en el uso de medicamentos durante los seis meses previos. Los modelos controlan por efectos secundarios de los medicamentos, actitudes frente al riesgo, competencias autoatribuidas, uso previo de medicamentos, sexo y edad. Las implicaciones del estudio son discutidas.

Keywords :

• pharmaceutical cognitive enhancement
• nonmedical use of prescription medicine
• substance abuse
• cognitive test anxiety
• expected side effects
• risk attitudes

Notes

1 The reader is reminded that the concepts of “risk factors,” as well as “protective factors,” are often noted in the literature, without adequately noting their dimensions (linear, nonlinear; rates of development; anchoring or integration, cessation, etc.), into their “demands,” the critical necessary conditions (endogenously as well as exogenously; from a micro to a meso to a macro level) which are necessary for either of them to operate (begin, continue, become anchored and integrate, change as de facto realities change, cease, etc.) or not to and whether their underpinnings are theory-driven, empirically-based, individual and/or systemic stake holder- bound, based upon “principles of faith,” historical observation, precedents and traditions that accumulate over time, conventional wisdom, perceptual and judgmental constraints, “transient public opinion.” or what. This is necessary to consider and to clarify if these terms are not to remain as yet additional shibboleth in a field of many stereotypes, tradition-driven activities, “principles of faith” and stakeholder objectives. Editor's note.