Threat and benign interpretation bias might not be a unidimensional construct

Abstract

The tendency for individuals to interpret ambiguous information in a threatening way is theorised to maintain anxiety disorders. Recent findings suggest that positive and negative interpretation biases may have unique effects. This study tested the relationships between threat and benign biases with state and trait anxiety and quality of life, and whether individual differences moderate these relationships. N = 699 individuals with elevated trait anxiety symptoms completed web-based measures of interpretation bias, trait anxiety, state anxiety, and quality of life. Results demonstrated that threat interpretations predicted state anxiety, trait anxiety, and quality of life. Benign interpretations also predicted quality of life. However, benign interpretations only weakly (or not at all) predicted state and trait anxiety. Individual differences (e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, age) did not moderate findings. Results emphasise the need to consider benign and threat biases separately, both in cognitive models of anxiety and experimental designs.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02382003.

Keywords: Interpretation bias; state anxiety; threat; trait anxiety.

Figures

Figure 1.

The relationships between interpretation biases and anxiety (Model 1). Note. BBSIQ=Brief Body Sensation Interpretation Questionnaire; RR=Recognition Ratings; DASS=Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales.

Figure 2.

The relationships between interpretation biases, anxiety, and quality of life (Model 2). Note. BBSIQ=Brief Body Sensation Interpretation Questionnaire; RR=Recognition Ratings; DASS=Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales.