Impact of autistic traits on the anxiety-linked attentional bias to negative information. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: South, Emily; Papaelias, Sarah; Grafton, Ben; MacLeod, Colin; Maybery, Murray
• Is Part Of: Research in autism spectrum disorders. Volume 98(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Autism -- Autistic traits -- Anxiety -- Attentional bias; Autism spectrum disorders -- Periodicals; 616.85882005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2022.102036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-9467

Abstract

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. Highlights: Aetiology of high trait anxiety in autistic individuals is not well understood. High autistic traits may reduce anxiety-linked negative attention bias. Prior research investigating this issue has been methodologically compromised. High autistic traits did not reduce anxiety-linked negative attention bias.