Examining the role of trait anxiety and attentional bias to negative information in intrusion vulnerability following an acute negative event

Research shows that individuals with heightened trait anxiety are more likely to experience intrusions. However, the mechanisms through which trait anxiety can influence intrusions remain unknown. This research program investigated attentional biases to negative information as candidate mechanisms. Results revealed that different mechanisms may be associated with individual differences in intrusion frequency and distress but do not appear to make a causal contribution. Future research seeking to understand individual differences in intrusion vulnerability should aim to discriminate mechanisms that may contribute to variation in intrusion frequency from those that may contribute to variation in intrusion-related distress.