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Updated: May 14, 2026

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults
Published on: October 19, 2014
Cognitive vulnerability profiles of highly anxious and non-anxious children
Teresa Marques1, Ana I F Pereira, Luísa Barros
1Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013, Lisbon, Portugal, teresamarques@campus.ul.pt.
Abstract:
Current theoretical notions emphasise the role of cognitive variables in the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety. The purpose of this study was to explore whether there are different types of cognitive vulnerability to anxiety among children. The participants were 118 children between the ages of 7 and 13 who completed a set of questionnaires to measure cognitive errors, threat-related interpretation bias, and anxiety-related control. Cluster analysis identified three relevant clusters: (1) a High Cognitive Vulnerability cluster, characterised by high levels of cognitive errors and threat interpretation and low levels of control; (2) a Low Cognitive Vulnerability cluster, characterised by low levels of cognitive errors and threat interpretation and high levels of control; and (3) an Inconsistent Cognitive Vulnerability cluster, characterised by low levels of cognitive errors and threat interpretation and low levels of control. Differences between the clusters were found in terms of anxiety symptoms, coping strategies, and gender. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
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