Trait anxiety-linked bias in expectancy updating: Examining the contributions of negative interrogation bias and negatively biased expectancy updating to elevated negative state affect when approaching potential stressors

The present study examined whether people with high trait anxiety volitionally access proportionately more negative (than positive) information when interrogating available information concerning an approaching potential stressor during a period of expectancy updating. The present study also examined the role this negative interrogation bias plays in shaping trait anxiety-linked negative expectancy bias and elevated negative state affect. Participants low and high in trait anxiety ( N = 311) were informed at the outset of the testing session that they may later view a potentially stressful film. Participants then completed a procedure designed to induce initial expectancies concerning the film viewing stressor. Subsequently, participants were provided the opportunity to update their initial expectancies by interrogating negative and positive information concerning the film viewing stressor. The proportion of negative information selected by each participant was taken as a measure of their negative interrogation bias. Measures of expectancies and state affect were taken before and after the induction of initial expectancies, and before and after the subsequent expectancy updating period. The results indicated that, during the expectancy updating period, participants high in trait anxiety displayed greater negative interrogation bias than participants low in trait anxiety. The results also revealed an indirect association between trait anxiety and elevation of negative state affect concurrent to expectancy updating period, which was serially mediated by negative interrogation bias during this period, and by concurrent elevation of negative expectancy bias. Findings are discussed with regards to potential implications for cognitive behavioural interventions for anxiety which seek to drive therapeutic change through the modification of expectancies. • Expectations about potential stressors may be updated as new information is encountered • People high in trait anxiety selectively access negative information about potential stressors • Results suggest people high in trait anxiety exhibit this bias when updating expectations • This trait anxiety-linked bias predicted concurrent elevation of negative expectations and affect