Career thoughts consist of both cognitive and affective aspects (Peterson et al., 2024), and when negative in nature, are associated with poor career outcomes such as career indecision (Bullock-Yowell et al., 2011), less self and options knowledge (Osborn et al., 2020), and decision-making difficulties (Hayden & Osborn, 2020). Negative career thoughts have been correlated with forms of anxiety, such as worry (Hayden & Osborn, 2020) and career tension (Finklea & Osborn, 2019). Anxiety has been shown to impair a person's cognitive abilities (MacLeod & Mathews, 2012; McNally, 2019) and cause a negative cognitive bias (Hallion & Ruscio, 2011; Yiend et al., 2015). Anxiety has also been frequently associated with career indecision (Daniels et al., 2011; Park et al., 2017). Despite indications of a connection between anxiety and career thoughts, the connection between forms of anxiety, negative career thoughts, and a a key component of Cognitive Information Processing career theory, information processing skills, has not been studied.
This study of 181 participants at a large university career center that serves community members explored the connection between forms of anxiety (i.e., state, trait, overall), negative career thoughts, and CIP skills using the Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Correlational research, including regression analyses, was performed to examine this connection. Results indicated a relationship between anxiety, negative career thoughts and information processing skills. Particularly, trait and overall anxiety were found to be most associated with negative career thoughts and CIP skills. Implications of these findings in career practice, research, and theory will be presented.