The effect of trait-state anxiety on choice overload: the mediating role of choice difficulty

People tend to prefer a wide range of options, even if it requires more effort to make a decision. The digital environment provides a variety of choices, and people may encounter anxiety when they face such uncertain choices. This study conducted two experiments to examine the effects of trait and state anxiety on the phenomenon of choice overload in the digital environment. Choice deferral served as a measure of choice overload. The results suggested that individuals with high trait/state anxiety were more likely to delay choices when presented with a larger choice set. Anxiety moderated the effect of choice set on choice overload, while choice difficulty played a mediating role. Our results provided insight into the mechanism of choice overload and suggested solutions such as altering the information presentation, to reduce choice overload and assist individuals in making informed decisions. These findings also highlighted the destructive effects of state anxiety on decision making and the necessity of keeping individuals relaxed when making decisions.