University of Sussex
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

Experimental modification of interpretation bias regarding social and animal fear in children.

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 21:51 authored by Kathryn LesterKathryn Lester, Andy FieldAndy Field, P Muris
Using an experimental bias modification task, an interpretation bias towards or away from threat was induced about animal or social situations in a sample of 103 children split into a young (7-10 years) and old age group (11-15 years). Children rapidly learned to select outcomes of ambiguous situations which were congruent with their assigned modification condition. Following positive modification, children's threat interpretation biases significantly decreased, while threat biases increased (non-significantly) after negative modification. Bias modification effects also varied as a function of age with children appearing particularly vulnerable to acquiring biases about stimuli that were congruent with the normative fears for their age group. Weak age-related modification-congruent effects on younger but not older children's anxiety vulnerability in response to a behavioral task were also observed. However, no consistent effects of bias modification on avoidance behavior were found.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of Anxiety Disorders

ISSN

1873-7897

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

5

Volume

25

Page range

697-705

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2015-07-23

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC