Computer experience and computer anxiety

In this article two studies are reported that tested the nature of the relationship between computer experience and computer anxiety. In the first study 184 first year psychology students were given a questionnaire that measured their computer experience in terms of e.g. breadth of experience, hours spent on working with computers, skills level, the nature of the first computer experience and the occurrence of computer anxiety. A combined latent-factor path model depicting the relationship between experience and anxiety was construed and tested by means of EQS. The model in which computer experience unidirectionally influenced computer anxiety showed a reasonable fit (CFI=0.91). Two other models were also tested. The model in which experience was a consequence of anxiety in terms of physical arousal and affect and the reciprocal model showed insufficient fit (CFI=0.79 and 0.86). A second study among 225 first and third year psychology students was done to see if the original model could be improved upon. Adding the variables "sex" and "necessity of use of computers" into the model improved the fit of the model (CFI=0.93); it was also found that the amount of control felt during the first experience raised levels of feeling computer literate and liking the computer. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.