Impact of autistic traits on the anxiety-linked attentional bias to negative information

Emily South, Sarah Papaelias, Ben Grafton, Colin MacLeod, Murray Maybery

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
4 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Cognitive models propose that an attentional bias to negative information (ABNI) plays a key role in the aetiology and maintenance of high trait anxiety. The findings from previous research suggest that high autistic symptoms may attenuate anxiety-linked difference in ABNI. Method: This possibility was investigated by screening candidate participants (n = 871) on the Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and then recruiting four groups representing the combination of high/low autistic traits and high/low trait anxiety (n = 89), with participants completing a dot-probe task. Results: Results demonstrated a significant anxiety-linked difference in ABNI in participants high in autistic traits, but not in participants low in autistic traits. Conclusions: This pattern of findings stands in clear contradiction to the hypothesis that high levels of autistic traits attenuate anxiety-linked difference in ABNI.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102036
JournalResearch in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Volume98
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2022

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of autistic traits on the anxiety-linked attentional bias to negative information'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this