Disclosed is an application of substituted cinnamamide derivatives in the preparation of anti-anxiety medications, the substituted cinnammide derivatives are compounds having the structure of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein, R 1 is -H, -OH, -F, -Cl, -Br, -I, -OCH 3 , -OCF 3 , -OCHF 2 , -OCH 2 F, -CF 3 , -CHF 2 , -CH 2 F, -CH 3 , -CH 3 CH 2 , -CF 3 CH 2 , -CN, -NO 2 , -NH 2 or -COOR 5 ; R 2 is H, C 1 -C 10 linear alkyl, C 3 -C 10 branched alkyl, C 3 -C 10 cyclic alkyl, C 1 -C 10 hydroxyalkyl or a N-substituted piperazine-derived group; or R 2 is a group forming with adjacent Y a tetrahydropyrrolyl group, a piperidyl group or a cyclohexanimido group.