Attentional bias modification in reducing test anxiety vulnerability: a randomized controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Anxiety disorders may stem from a tendency to selectively process threat-related information.
• High test anxiety is a significant concern for academic performance and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if attentional bias modification (ABM) can alter attention to emotional information in individuals with high test anxiety.
• To determine if changes in attentional bias are associated with anxiety vulnerability.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-seven undergraduates participated, divided into an ABM training group, a placebo group, and a waiting list control group.
• A 5-day modified dot probe task was used for ABM training.
• Measures included attentional bias, salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), and visual analogue scale of anxiety.

Main Results:

• The ABM group demonstrated significant changes in attentional bias scores post-training.
• No significant changes in attentional bias were observed in the placebo or waiting list groups.
• Anxiety vulnerability, specifically attention to threats, significantly decreased in the ABM group.

Conclusions:

• Attentional bias toward threat stimuli is implicated in anxiety vulnerability.
• Attentional bias modification away from threats is an effective strategy for individuals preparing for exams.