The role of expectancies and selective interrogation of information in trait anxiety-linked affect when approaching potentially stressful future events

Abstract

The present study examined cognitive mechanisms underpinning the increased tendency of individuals with high trait anxiety to experience inflation of negative affect when approaching potential stressors. Specifically, the roles of (1) disproportionately negative relative to positive expectancies (i.e., negative expectancy bias) and (2) disproportionately interrogating negative relative to positive information (i.e., negative interrogation bias), each concerning the potential stressor, were examined. High and low trait anxiety participants (N = 286) completed the experimental session, in which they were informed they may view a potentially stressful film. As participants approached the putative film viewing, participants' negative and positive affect, as well as their negative and positive expectancies were assessed. Additionally, negative interrogation bias was assessed by providing participants the opportunity to selectively interrogate information from a larger pool of negative and positive information concerning the putative film viewing. Our findings provide evidence indirect associations between trait anxiety and inflation of negative affect is serially mediated via negative interrogation bias and, in turn, negative expectancy bias. Findings are discussed with regards to limitations and potential implications for public health campaigns, and cognitive interventions for anxiety, highlighting the utility of further examining negative interrogation bias as an avenue for improving the efficacy of each.