Background and objectives

Research shows that individuals with heightened trait anxiety are more likely to experience intrusions; however, the mechanism that accounts for this relationship is unclear. Two alternative hypotheses were tested to determine the nature of the associations between trait anxiety, attentional bias to negative information, and intrusion vulnerability.

Methods

Intrusions were elicited using the trauma film paradigm, and post-event attentional bias to negative information was assessed using the dot-probe task. Participants then completed a week-long intrusions diary.

Results

Results showed that attentional bias to negative information mediated the effect of heightened trait anxiety on elevated intrusion frequency. It was also revealed that heightened trait anxiety was associated with elevated intrusion-related distress, though attentional bias to negative information did not mediate this relationship.

Limitations

Our sample was comprised of undergraduate students who were not selected based on a previous pathology. Replication in clinical samples is warranted.

Conclusions

These findings provide new insight regarding individual differences in the experience of intrusions and suggest that both the frequency and distress associated with intrusions could represent clinical targets.

中文翻译：

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检查特质焦虑和对负面信息的注意偏差在情绪负面事件后的入侵脆弱性中的作用

背景和目标

研究表明，特质焦虑程度较高的人更有可能遭遇入侵。然而，解释这种关系的机制尚不清楚。测试了两种替代假设，以确定特质焦虑、对负面信息的注意偏差和入侵脆弱性之间关联的性质。

方法

使用创伤电影范式引发入侵，并使用点探测任务评估事件后对负面信息的注意偏差。然后参与者完成了为期一周的入侵日记。

结果

结果表明，对负面信息的注意偏差介导了特质焦虑加剧对入侵频率升高的影响。研究还表明，特质焦虑的加剧与入侵相关的痛苦增加有关，尽管对负面信息的注意偏差并不能调节这种关系。

局限性

我们的样本由本科生组成，他们不是根据以前的病理学选择的。临床样本中的复制是有必要的。

结论

这些发现提供了关于入侵经历的个体差异的新见解，并表明与入侵相关的频率和痛苦都可以代表临床目标。