Is the relationship between intelligence and trait Neuroticism mediated by test anxiety?

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between trait Neuroticism, state anxiety and intelligence. A total of 213 participants (divided into high-anxiety and low-anxiety groups) completed the Raven’s Progressive Matrices and the Traits Personality Questionnaire 5 (the shortened version of a Greek Big Five measure-TPQue). Correlational analysis showed that trait Neurotics were more likely to be affected by test anxiety and by induced anxiety, and that the high-anxiety group scored lower on the intelligence test than the low-anxiety group. Neuroticism was significantly correlated with intelligence for the high-anxiety group but not for the low-anxiety group, although these correlations were not significantly different. Furthermore, when test anxiety was partialled out, Neuroticism did not significantly correlate with intelligence. These results support the majority of the hypotheses, indicating that the relationship between intelligence and trait Neuroticism is mediated by test anxiety.