Trait Anxiety Research Articles

Examining the role of post-event processing in test anxiety—Pilot testing in three student samples

This work investigates the occurrence of post-event processing (PEP) in the context of test anxiety; PEP involves rumination and self-critical thinking following an event and commonly observed in social anxiety. Three short-term longitudinal studies in student samples examined whether PEP occurs after exams and how it is associated with test anxiety. University students (N = 35 in Study 1, N = 146 in Study 2, and N = 37 in Study 3) completed measures of trait and state test anxiety before an actual exam; PEP related to the exam was assessed at various time points afterward. Results revealed that PEP occurred to a meaningful extent after exam situations. Overall, it was positively associated with trait and state test anxiety, although some variations in the relations were found across the three studies. These findings underscore the relevance of PEP in the context of test anxiety, as PEP might contribute to maintaining test anxiety in the long term. Implications for future studies are discussed.

Psychometric assessment of a Chinese version of a mindfulness practice quality measurement tool.

Mindfulness training is increasingly popular in China. The challenge of evaluating mindfulness practice objectively and accurately has attracted research attention. However, previous studies in China focused primarily on the quantity rather than the quality of mindfulness training. The Practice Quality - Mindfulness (PQ-M) can provide a solution. Consequently, the present study aimed to validate and assess the internal consistency and construct validity of the Chinese version of the Practice Quality - Mindfulness (Ch-PQ-M) in a non-clinical sample. One hundred and sixty participants (female:81) were recruited to practice 20min of mindfulness training daily for four consecutive days and to complete the Ch-PQ-M, the State Anxiety Inventory, and the Peace of Mind Scale immediately after each mindfulness practice. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale were administered pre- and post- 4-day treatment. Construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis), internal consistency, test-retest reliability, predictive validity and construct validity were examined. Ch-PQ-M demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the established two-factor model (perseverance and receptivity). The Ch-PQ-M attention score was significantly associated with changes of trait anxiety. It improved with short-term mindfulness practice. The perseverance score consistently correlates with scores on peace of mind, state anxiety, trait anxiety, and observe and nonreactivity. The receptivity score remains consistently correlated with the nonjudging. These findings suggest that Ch-PQ-M is a valid instrument for evaluating individual mindfulness quality for a single-session practice. Our findings suggest that Ch-PQ-M (especially for the Ch-PQ-M perseverance score) has acceptable psychometric properties and is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing mindfulness practice quality in the Chinese cultural context.

Exploring and comparing the relationship between maternal anxiety and children's anxiety during admission, hospitalization, and discharge in pediatric wards of Iranian hospitals.

Parental anxiety levels increase during their child's hospitalization. Consequently, anxiety can disrupt parental functioning as a caregiver and potentially transfer distress to the child. This study seeks to explore how maternal anxiety affects the anxiety levels of hospitalized children across three key stages: admission, in-hospital stay, and discharge. A cross-sectional study was conducted with hospitalized children aged 8 to 15 years their mothers. The sample size was determined based on the formula. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires and validated tools, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS). The STAI measures state and trait anxiety, while the SCAS assesses various domains of child anxiety. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and fractional polynomial modeling to assess anxiety trends. The study involved 179 participants, with mothers averaging 36.95 years old. Most participants were homemakers (82.7%) and had less than a high school education (62.6%). The average number of children per mother was 2.02, and only 2.8% utilized assisted reproductive technologies. Maternal anxiety levels were notably high, with mean state anxiety scores decreasing slightly from 45.74 at admission to 44.53 at discharge. Trait anxiety scores followed a similar trend, averaging 42.79 at admission and dropping to 41.60 at discharge. The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale scores were relatively stable, starting at 50.93 at admission and ending at 50.89 at discharge. Severe state anxiety affected 25.7% of participants, while 11.2% experienced severe trait anxiety. Importantly, significant positive correlations were identified between maternal anxiety and children's anxiety throughout the hospitalization period. This study reveals high levels of both maternal and pediatric anxiety throughout hospitalization. Mean scores for state and trait anxiety remained elevated at all stages, with significant correlations between maternal and child anxiety. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions to address and manage anxiety in both mothers and children during hospital stays. Future research should focus on strategies to mitigate these anxieties and improve support for families.

The risks of unconcern: low sensitivity to threat can have unfortunate consequences

Each one of us is confronted with warnings of danger or threats to wellbeing in our everyday life, whether in the form of certain road signs, Public Service Announcements, ominous changes in bodily functioning, or cautionary tales heard from family or friends. There is great inter-individual variation in how people respond to such threats, with some people habitually tending to ignore or dismiss them, often to their peril. The first purpose of the present paper is to review several studies showing that individuals—most often men—who score very low on measures of trait anxiety are more likely to engage in behaviors that could jeopardize their physical wellbeing. The general hypothesis that is derived from that review is that when attention to everyday threats is chronically muted by way of a dispositional trait, the likelihood of proceeding down some dangerous path is increased. Those findings are then discussed within the broader context of personality theory to highlight the importance of recognizing the bipolarity of common traits. Here the case is made for replacing the term trait anxiety with the term threat sensitivity in order to capture the full breadth of this basic personality variable. A discussion of the neurobiological underpinnings of threat sensitivity is then presented with an emphasis on individual and sex differences in the workings of the defensive survival circuitry. Taken together, this paper has implications for two subfields within psychology. For the area of personality theory, this paper provides support for the adaptationist view with the argument that low threat sensitivity has both adaptive and maladaptive potential. For the area of health psychology, it is argued that some individuals who demonstrate a habitual tendency to neglect their physical wellbeing may be acting—at least in part—in accordance with their innate neurobiological constitution.

Anxiety, memory, and social impairments in the YAC128 mouse model of Huntington’s disease

Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder, caused by an expansion of polyglutamine in the huntingtin protein. HD is characterized by a progressive decline in motor functions. This decline includes involuntary movements (chorea) and the worsening of controlled motions caused mainly by neuronal dysfunction in the striatum. In addition to the deterioration of motor symptoms, HD patients also suffer from cognitive changes, mood swings, apathy, depression, outbursts of anger, psychosis, and social withdrawal. Objective A comprehensive examination of cognitive, affective, and social changes in the HD mouse model is required for the development of combined therapy for both motor and non-motor deficits in HD. Methods The behavioral tests for anxiety, memory, and social traits were used in this study. Results YAC128 HD transgenic mice exhibited anxiolytic behavior in the novel brightly illuminated environment of the open field and light-dark place preference tests. Moreover, YAC128 HD mice also suffered from a decline in their recognition memory during the novel object recognition test. YAC128 HD mice demonstrated reduced exploration interest during the open field with a non-social target as well as during the first day of the three-chamber social test. Social interaction was also impaired in YAC128 HD mice as it was shown in the social interaction with resident intruder test. Conclusions YAC128 HD mouse model may be used as a model system to test the possible treatments for both motor and non-motor symptoms including memory loss, agitation and social withdrawal.

The prevalence of early maladaptive schemas, anxiety, and coping strategies in adolescent girls who are survivors of sexual abuse: a case report

ABSTRACT Sexual abuse of adolescent girls often leads to maladaptive behavioural patterns, variable anxiety responses, and dysfunctional coping mechanisms. This case report aims to investigate the prevalence of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), anxiety, and coping strategies among five adolescent girls who are survivors of sexual abuse. The participants had a mean age of 16.6 years (±1.14 years) and were residing at the Ibtissama Social Complex Support Association (ISCSA) in Meknes, Morocco. Data were collected using a suite of standardised Likert-scale instruments. The State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), and Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC) were used. Findings reveal pervasive EMS activation and high anxiety levels among all participants, with emotion-focused coping as the predominant mechanism. These results emphasise the critical roles of EMS, anxiety, and coping strategies following sexual abuse, highlighting the need for effective, scalable therapeutic interventions for this vulnerable demographic.

Investigating the Anxiety of Free-Fall Paratroopers and Its Determining Factors: Experience and Personality Traits in a Military Base

Background: Skydiving anxiety varies according to individual personality traits. Identifying key factors influencing paratroopers' well-being and performance is essential. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between anxiety and personality traits in free-fall skydivers. Methods: An analytical study was conducted at a military base in Guilan province, Iran, with free-fall paratroopers selected through random sampling. Data were collected using three questionnaires covering demographics, anxiety levels, and personality factors. Results: Fifty-eight paratroopers were assessed; 79.3% were under 30 years old. Free-fall paratroopers exhibited higher levels of extraversion and conscientiousness and lower levels of neuroticism. Trait anxiety was found to be higher among those with neuroticism. Experienced paratroopers displayed higher trait anxiety, with no significant relationship to state anxiety, experience level, or age. Conclusions: High trait anxiety in neurotic paratroopers is meaningful in relation to personality traits examined in this study.

Transdiagnostic Anxiety-Related Increases in Information Sampling are Associated With Altered Valuation.

Excessive information sampling in psychiatric patients characterized by high trait anxiety has been inconsistently linked with alterations in inferential and valuation processes. Methodological limitations could account in part for these inconsistencies. To address this, computational models of inference and valuation were applied to data collected from a transdiagnostic sample of adults with and without an anxiety or compulsive disorder using a version of the beads task with enhanced experimental controls. Participants diagnosed with an anxiety or compulsive disorder (n = 35) and healthy controls (n = 23) completed the beads task with three majority-to-minority ratios of blue versus green beads (60:40, 75:25, 90:10). First, a Bayesian belief-updating model was fit to quantify the iterative process by which new information (bead color) and prior beliefs were integrated to influence current beliefs about jar identity. Next, a parameterized partially observable Markov decision process model was used to parse the contribution of value-based decisions to sampling behavior and included a relative subjective cost parameter, Csub , for each bead-ratio condition. Higher trait anxiety was associated with more draws-to-decision, most robustly in the 90:10 bead-ratio condition. Only relative subjective cost of sampling decisions, and not inferential differences in weighting of new or old information, satisfactorily accounted for this relation. Specifically, lower Csub(0.9) was associated with more trait anxiety and more draws-to-decision. In a condition with high objective evidence strength, transdiagnostic trait-anxiety-related increases in information sampling were explained by a cost-benefit analysis where relatively higher subjective cost was assigned to an incorrect guess, highlighting valuation as a potential treatment target for future research.

Differentiating anxiety profiles in medical students: a latent profile analysis

ABSTRACT Previous studies have confirmed a high prevalence of anxiety among medical students. The present study aimed to identify distinct medical student anxiety profiles to develop targeted interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 735 medical students (346 males and 389 females) recruited voluntarily from mainland China. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was applied to explore profiles of various types of anxiety, including test anxiety, academic anxiety, social anxiety, career choice anxiety, general anxiety, and trait anxiety. The results showed that LPA yielded four profiles, comprising 17.14, 20.82, 21.50, and 40.54% of the sample respectively. Specifically, Class 1 (17.14%) showed the highest levels of multiple types of anxiety, particularly the highest level of general anxiety. Class 2 (20.82%) and Class 3 (21.50%) showed moderate levels of anxiety, but they displayed different patterns across various types of anxiety except for social anxiety. Class 4 (40.54%) displayed the lowest levels of anxiety across all types. These profiles differed in academic status and depression. Further, the multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that the high-anxiety group (Class 1) was more likely to be elder students, with lower sports frequency and a higher degree of self-handicapping. These results call for the need to move beyond linear relations among global constructs to address the complexity of anxiety coping and highlight the importance of customized intervention for these heterogeneous groups.

The Interrelated Effects between College Students' Subjective Well-being and Self-efficacy

General self-efficacy refers to the overall level of confidence held by an individual in the face of various challenges or new situations. Previous research has revealed that general self-efficacy is strongly associated with an individual's mental health states, such as anxiety and depression. General self-efficacy was significantly and negatively correlated with trait anxiety, test anxiety, and state anxiety, as well as with depression[3] . On the other hand, subjective well-being is an individual's overall evaluation of the quality of life based on his or her own criteria, and it is regarded as an important psychological indicator of the quality of life of individuals and society, which can reflect the quality of life of individuals in society.

Distinct Chrna5 mutations link excessive alcohol use to types I/II vulnerability profiles and IPN GABAergic neurons

Genome wide association and animal studies have implicated genetic variations in CHRNΑ5, encoding the α5 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α5*nAChRs), as a risk factor for developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs). To understand how α5*nAChR mutations may influence alcohol (EtOH) drinking behavior, we used a two-bottle choice procedure with intermittent access to alcohol in male and female transgenic mice expressing either the highly frequent human single nucleotide polymorphism (α5SNP/rs16969968) or a deletion of the Chrna5 gene (α5KO). AUDs-related preconsommatory traits (anxiety, sensation-seeking and impulsivity) were assessed with a battery of relevant tasks (elevated-plus maze, novel place preference and step-down inhibitory avoidance). The implication of the α5-expressing IPN GABAergic neurons in AUDs and related behavioral traits was verified using neurospecific lentiviral (LV)-induced reexpression of the α5 subunit in α5KOxGAD-Cre mice. Both α5SNP and α5KO mice showed over-consumption of EtOH, but displayed opposite vulnerability profiles consistent with Cloninger’s subtypes of human AUDs. α5SNP mice showed Type I-like characteristics, i.e., high anxiety, novelty avoidance, whereas α5KOs exhibited Type II-like features such as low anxiety and high impulsivity. LV re-expression of the α5 subunit in IPN GABAergic neurons restored the control of EtOH intake and improved the impulsive phenotype. We demonstrate that the SNP (rs16969968) or null mutation of Chrna5 result in increased volitional EtOH consumption but opposite effects on anxiety, novelty-seeking and impulsive-like behaviors that match Cloninger type I and II of AUDs, including sex-related variations. IPN GABAergic neurons expressing α5*nAChRs play a key role in limiting both EtOH drinking and motor impulsivity.

The Effectiveness of Psychological Resources Supporting a Person’s Well-Being in the Face of Uncertainty and Stress: A Research Contributing to SDG Objectives

Objective: the aim of the study is to identify the combinations of psychological capital components (PsyCap) and person’s traits which can impact the person’s well-being in the situation of uncertainity and stress. Theoretical framework: the methodogical principles of determinism (the assumption that all behaviors have a specific cause) and systemic approach (analyzing complex phenomena by studying the interrelations between various components as a whole) were adopted. The main theory which was taken into account is an Evidence-Based Positive Approach of psychological Capital (Luthans F. et al, 2017). Methods: the theoretical review of the psychological aspects of uncertainty and the psychological survey was conducted (with the application of Psychological Capital Questionnaire-PCQ, Myers–Briggs Type Indicator-MBTI, The Spielberger-Hanin anxiety test-STAI) Results and discussion: the study revealed that some combinations of personal traits and components of psychological capital can lead to adaptation during uncertainty and stress more effectively even with higher level of trait anxiety. Research implications: the results can be applied in the sphere of psychological support to deal with potential challenges with limited resources by organizing the effective mechanism of coping with uncertainty and stress. Originality: the study contributes the 3th objective of SDG (good health and well-being). The algorithm of effective perception of uncertainty was shown and some consistent patterns of PsyCap components were revealed.

A Comprehensive Investigation of Social Anxiety and Social Evaluative Stress in Autistic Children and Adolescents and Specific Learning Disorders.

The aim was to investigate trait social anxiety and social evaluative stress in autistic children and adolescents and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). This was done by evaluating behavioral, subjective, and autonomic responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Study 1 included 280 children and adolescents: 60 autistic without intellectual disability (ID), 70 SLD, and 150 non-diagnosed (ND) peers. Study 2 involved 55 participants: 15 autistic without ID, 15 SLD, and 20 ND. The sample was predominantly male. In Study 1, behavioral (quality of public speech) and subjective (valence, arousal, perceived competence, and worries) aspects of social stress were examined. Study 2 expands upon the first study, as physiological responses to social stress were also measured. Trait social anxiety was investigated using both parents' and children's reports in the two studies. Parents of autistic participants and with SLD reported higher trait social anxiety in their children than the parents of ND. No differences emerged from the participants' self-reports, though those autistic and with SLD were assigned lower scores in the public speech quality than ND. Autistic children and adolescents reported lower arousal and higher perceived competence than ND, while those with SLD reported a lower perception of competence. Autistic participants had a decreased cardiac reactivity across the TSST when compared to SLD and ND. Our findings show unique patterns of responses within each group, confirming that the combined investigation of trait anxiety and social stress responses could be a valuable insight in research and clinical practice.

Overparenting and adolescent's trait anxiety: Unraveling the roles of basic psychological needs frustration and emotion dysregulation.

Parental involvement is widely recognized for its beneficial impact on child development. However, helicopter parenting, as an excessive and developmentally inappropriate involvement, can lead to significant mental health challenges. While the general effects of overparenting on well-being have been well-documented, its specific underlying mechanisms are still underexplored. The present study aimed to examine the serial mediating roles of basic psychological needs (BPN) frustration and emotion dysregulation in the link between helicopter parenting and trait anxiety among 391 adolescents chosen via convenience sampling. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that helicopter parenting significantly predicted higher levels of trait anxiety (β=0.367, p<.01). Furthermore, the indirect effect of helicopter parenting on trait anxiety was statistically significant through the serial mediation of BPN frustration and emotion dysregulation (β=0.134, p<.01). In fact, over-controlling parenting can lead to frustration of adolescents' BPN and, in turn, restricted access to effective emotion regulation strategies, which may ultimately increase trait anxiety among adolescents. These findings underscore the critical need for balanced parental involvement to foster healthy psychological development of adolescents.

Is the Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test a viable alternative to the Trier Social Stress Test?

BackgroundThe Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a widely used laboratory protocol to study acute stress reactivity, a hallmark of which is a meaningful increase in saliva cortisol (> 2.5 nmol/L) in most individuals, reflecting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. The Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test (MMST) has potential as a low staff burden alternative to the TSST, with one study showing statistically significant increases in subjective stress, heart rate and saliva cortisol; however, uncertainty remains about the meaningfulness of these psychobiological responses. ObjectiveTo assess whether the MMST is a viable alternative to the TSST. MethodsUsing a between subjects design, 31 healthy adults were randomised to the standard TSST or the MMST using stratified block randomisation accounting for sex and trait anxiety. The standard TSST consisted of an anticipation phase, followed by a free speech and mental arithmetic task performed in front of a panel of trained actors. The MMST consisted of a computer based Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (cognitive stressor) with additional motivational, emotional, and acoustic stressors in the presence of one unresponsive observer. ResultsGroup x time interactions showed that the MMST induced smaller psychobiological responses compared with the TSST (mixed model ANCOVA, P < 0.05). Post-hoc analyses revealed that the MMST induced a significant yet smaller state anxiety response (score range 20–80, MMST: 47 ± 12 vs. TSST: 57 ± 9; P < 0.01, Cohens d = 0.9) and peak heart rate response (MMST: 98 ± 17 vs. TSST: 110 ± 21 bpm; P < 0.05, Cohens d = 0.6) compared with the TSST. Despite observing stereotypical neuroendocrine responses to the TSST, the MMST did not increase saliva α-amylase or cortisol (Δ saliva cortisol, 0.1 ± 1.1 vs. TSST: 10.3 ± 12.8 nmol/L; between group difference P < 0.01, Cohens d = 1.1). Moreover, meaningful increases in saliva cortisol (> 2.5 nmol/L) were observed in 80% of participants after the TSST but in no participant after the MMST. ConclusionThe Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test increased state anxiety and heart rate but not saliva cortisol. As such, the present results do not support the utility of the Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test as a viable alternative to The Trier Social Stress Test.

Psychosocial Dimensions of Pain Disparities in Youth Diagnosed with Unspecified Abdominal Pain in an Emergency Department

Diagnosis ambiguity, paired with pain care inequities experienced by marginalized groups may increase risk for ongoing pain and impairment in children diagnosed with unspecified abdominal pain in the pediatric emergency department (PED). This cross-sectional study examined psychological, caregiver, cultural, and socio-ecological factors associated with pain-related impairment in an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population diagnosed with unspecified abdominal pain in a PED. The sample included 111 children 8-17 years old (59.8% female, 72.7% Latinx) and their caregivers. Exclusion criteria included an Emergency Severity Index <2, psychiatric complaint, or not fluent in English or Spanish. Children completed the PROMIS Pain Interference Scale and reported pain intensity, pain duration, and pain catastrophizing. Caregivers reported language preference, pain catastrophizing, trait anxiety, and child internalizing symptoms. Area Deprivation Index quantified socio-ecological deprivation according to 9-digit zip code. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified independent associations with likelihood of reporting severe levels of pain-related impairment. Approximately 35.3% of children reported severe levels of pain-related impairment. In logistic regression analysis, an increased likelihood of endorsing severe pain-related impairment was associated with pain for >1 month (OR=9.19, p=.044), higher child pain catastrophizing (OR=1.23, p<.001), caregiver Spanish language (OR=11.11, p=.044), and clinically significant caregiver trait anxiety (OR=58.16, p=.004). Results highlight the incidence of severe pain-related impairment in children diagnosed with unspecified abdominal pain in a PED. Moreover, findings underscore the importance of screening pain-related impairment and caregiver anxiety, and addressing language barriers in this PED population. PerspectiveThis paper highlights the incidence of severe pain-related impairment among pediatric patients diagnosed with unspecified abdominal pain in a pediatric emergency department (PED). Results could inform early assessment and targeted interventions in the PED to prevent outcome disparities.

The Stress-Induced Hyperprolactinemia Might Not be That Stress-Induced as Argued: Observational Case-Control Study

The mechanism behind prolactin (PRL) elevation in stress-induced hyperprolactinaemia (si-HP) in humans is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of psychological stress and venous puncture (VP) pain on si-HP. The study included 91 individuals (nine males, 82 females) referred for HP. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-1 and STAI-2), and visual scales were used to evaluate trypanophobia, nosocomephobia, and scanxiety. Serial PRL measurements (SPM) were performed with venous cannula (VC) at 0 minutes (min), 30 min, and 60 min for the first 32 patients and with the VP method at the same intervals for the following 59 patients. si-HP was defined as PRL levels at 60 min (PRL60min) decreasing to normal limits according to gender. There were 23 HP (-), 25 HP (+), and 19 si-HP individuals, as well as 24 with macroprolactinaemia. The frequency of si-HP in the VC group (n = 7/32) was similar to that in the VP group (12/59, p=0.9). The PRL0min and PRL60min levels of the VC group were similar to those of the VP group. Trypanophobia, nosocomephobia, scanxiety, ASI-3, STAI-1, and STAI-2 scale scores were similar between the si-HP group and other groups. Trypanophobia, nosocomephobia, scanxiety, ASI-3, STAI-1 and STAI-2 scales scores were not correlated with PRL0min, or PRL60min levels. Si-HP is independent of states momentary or trait anxiety, and phobias trypanophobia, nosocomephobia and scanxiety. In this context, the relevance of the nomenclature of si-HP is controversial.

Effect of Music on Anxiety and Fatigue in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Anxiety and fatigue are symptoms typically experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. In dealing with these symptoms, listening to music may help patients. The randomized controlled study was conducted between May 1, 2022 and November 10, 2022 with 60 patients treated in the outpatient chemotherapy unit. The data were gathered using a patient information form, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. In addition to standard treatment and care, 30-minute music was played with a passive listening method in a total of three cycles of chemotherapy in the intervention group patients who completed the first cycle and visited for the second cycle of chemotherapy. According to the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) findings, the group variable significantly affected the post-test state anxiety scores when an adjustment was made for pre-test state anxiety scores (F=240.398, P<0.001, η²=0.808). In addition, pre-test state anxiety scores affected post-test results (F=7.925, P=0.007, η²=0.122). According to the ANCOVA findings, the group variable significantly affected the post-test trait anxiety scores (F=235.243, P<0.001, η²=0.805). In addition, pre-test trait anxiety scores affected post-test results (F=34.977, P<0.001, η²=0.380). According to ANCOVA results, the group variable significantly affected post-test fatigue scores (F=79.201, P<0.001, η²=0.582). In addition, pre-test scores affected post-test scores (F=11.082, P=0.002, η²=0.163). We observed that music had positive effects on fatigue and anxiety levels in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It may be recommended to include music intervention in nursing practices for cancer patients during chemotherapy. The study results demonstrated that music intervention can be used in nursing practices for cancer patients during chemotherapy. Its low-cost and non-invasive nature also provide ease of application. Therefore, we can recommend the application of music intervention in outpatient chemotherapy units.

Excessive avoidance bias towards uncertain faces in Non-clinical Social Anxiety Individuals

Previous survey studies have consistently shown a strong link between social anxiety and intolerance for uncertainty. However, this association lacks empirical validation from laboratory investigations. To bridge this gap, we conducted a study utilizing the ultimatum game task to assign distinct social connotations (egoistic, altruistic, and uncertain) to three initially neutral faces. Subsequently, we utilized the Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) paradigm to evaluate participants' approach-avoidance tendencies towards the faces with varying social meanings. Additionally, we collected data on participants' levels of social anxiety and trait anxiety. Our results indicate that both social anxiety and trait anxiety levels impact individuals' avoidance behaviors when faced with socially uncertain cues. This suggests that individuals with higher levels of social anxiety may demonstrate increased sensitivity to uncertainty in social contexts, leading to avoidance behaviors. Crucially, our findings directly underscore the heightened avoidance tendencies of non-clinical individuals with social anxiety towards socially uncertain stimuli, thereby providing new empirical support for research on anxiety disorders related to uncertainty.

Integrating threat conditioning and the hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology to advance the study of anxiety-related psychopathology.

Theoretical and methodological research on threat conditioning provides important neuroscience-informed approaches to studying fear and anxiety. The threat conditioning framework is at the vanguard of physiological and neurobiological research into core mechanistic symptoms of anxiety-related psychopathology, providing detailed models of neural circuitry underlying variability in clinically relevant behaviors (e.g., decreased extinction, heightened generalization) and heterogeneity in clinical anxiety presentations. Despite the strengths of this approach in explaining symptom and syndromal heterogeneity, the vast majority of psychopathology-oriented threat conditioning work has been conducted using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic categories, which fail to capture the symptom-level resolution that is afforded by threat conditioning indices. Furthermore, relations between fine-grained neurobehavioral measures of threat conditioning and anxiety traits and symptoms are substantially attenuated by within-category heterogeneity, arbitrary boundaries, and inherent comorbidity in the DSM approach. Conversely, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a promising approach for modeling anxiety symptoms relevant to threat conditioning work and for relating threat conditioning to broader anxiety-related constructs. To date, HiTOP has had a minimal impact on the threat conditioning field. Here, we propose that combining the HiTOP and neurobehavioral threat conditioning approaches is an important next step in studying anxiety-related pathology. We provide a brief review of prominent DSM critiques and how they affect threat conditioning studies and review relevant research and suggest solutions and recommendations that flow from the HiTOP perspective. Our hope is that this effort serves as both an inflection point and practical primer for HiTOP-aligned threat conditioning research that benefits both fields. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).