Computer anxiety: Comparison of research from the 1990s and 2000s

• Published in: Computers in human behavior Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 2337 - 2381
• Main Author: Powell, Anne L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Antecedents; Anxiety; Computer anxiety; Correlates; Correlation analysis; Human behavior; Literature review; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Outcomes; Synthesis; Antecedents; Literature review; Computer anxiety; Correlates; Outcomes
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.05.012

•A framework encompassing the variables studied in 276 computer anxiety articles is created.•A review of the findings of each of the 16 variables most often studied in conjunction with computer anxiety is presented.•Differences in computer anxiety study results found between the 1990s and 2000s are noted.•Future research directions are proposed. As computers became ubiquitous in businesses, homes, and schools, there was increasing concern about computer anxiety and its effect on individuals. The first academic articles on computer anxiety were published in the early 1980s. Since that time, hundreds of papers have been published on the topic. Yet, up to this time, no one has done a comprehensive review of computer anxiety. In this article, 276 articles on computer anxiety are reviewed. From a synthesis of the articles and variables studied to date, a framework is developed that outlines the primary topics studied in computer anxiety literature. Nine antecedents, five correlates, and two outcomes of computer anxiety are identified as the most studied variables in the literature. In addition, a statistical comparison is done to compare the distribution of computer anxiety topics and results published in the 1990s to those published in the 2000s. Suggestions for future research in computer anxiety are proposed.