Exploring the role of attentional inhibition in the development of anxiety in children
Exploring the role of attentional inhibition in the development of anxiety in children
There is strong evidence for information processing biases in attention to threat in adults who are high in anxiety (e.g., Williams, Watts, MacLeod & Matthews, 1988, 1997). Research has highlighted that attention bias appears to be of importance in the maintenance of anxious states with attention towards an away from threatening stimuli being identified as influential in processing of emotionally valent material (Mogg & Bradley, 1998; Williams et al. 1988, 1997). More recently, theorists have questioned whether it is the capture of attention or the ability to inhibit attention that plays a role in the development of anxiety disorders (Derryberry & Reed, 2002; Fox, 1993).
The first paper explores the literature to date, discussing current models in the adult literature before moving on to the emerging findings from studies of childhood anxiety. Consideration is given to the adaptive role of attention to threat and to the physiological processes underlying this. The development of effortful control used in inhibiting attentional processes is discussed in terms of neurological development over childhood.
The second paper goes on to examine the relationship between attention control, chronological age and anxiety in a developing population. The study aimed to explore whether the relationship between anxiety and attention to threat in children is moderated by age and attentional control.
A community sample of 42 children, aged 8 to 16, completed measures of trait anxiety, attention control, state anxiety and depression. Two computer based tasks were also administered: a modified version of the emotional Stroop and a Go/Nogo task.
The main results identified were a negative relationship between attention to angry faces and state anxiety. This relationship was moderated by and facilitated by an interaction between age and attention control.
University of Southampton
Southall, Naida
a143849d-3a4f-4368-a09e-327fd9f7d993
2007
Southall, Naida
a143849d-3a4f-4368-a09e-327fd9f7d993
Southall, Naida
(2007)
Exploring the role of attentional inhibition in the development of anxiety in children.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
There is strong evidence for information processing biases in attention to threat in adults who are high in anxiety (e.g., Williams, Watts, MacLeod & Matthews, 1988, 1997). Research has highlighted that attention bias appears to be of importance in the maintenance of anxious states with attention towards an away from threatening stimuli being identified as influential in processing of emotionally valent material (Mogg & Bradley, 1998; Williams et al. 1988, 1997). More recently, theorists have questioned whether it is the capture of attention or the ability to inhibit attention that plays a role in the development of anxiety disorders (Derryberry & Reed, 2002; Fox, 1993).
The first paper explores the literature to date, discussing current models in the adult literature before moving on to the emerging findings from studies of childhood anxiety. Consideration is given to the adaptive role of attention to threat and to the physiological processes underlying this. The development of effortful control used in inhibiting attentional processes is discussed in terms of neurological development over childhood.
The second paper goes on to examine the relationship between attention control, chronological age and anxiety in a developing population. The study aimed to explore whether the relationship between anxiety and attention to threat in children is moderated by age and attentional control.
A community sample of 42 children, aged 8 to 16, completed measures of trait anxiety, attention control, state anxiety and depression. Two computer based tasks were also administered: a modified version of the emotional Stroop and a Go/Nogo task.
The main results identified were a negative relationship between attention to angry faces and state anxiety. This relationship was moderated by and facilitated by an interaction between age and attention control.
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Published date: 2007
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Local EPrints ID: 467182
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/467182
PURE UUID: 6e5f8f2b-6e5d-47de-a269-ef2b52e01ca2
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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 08:15
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 21:02
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Author:
Naida Southall
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