Browsing by Author "Heilner, Emily"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Trait Worry Predicts Emotional Interference During The Emotional Stroop Task In Adolescence(University of Delaware, 2022-05) Heilner, EmilyIntroduction: Adolescents face a particular vulnerability to the onset of internalizing disorders, which past research has linked to numerous health risks and negative outcomes. Trait worry is a transdiagnostic factor closely linked to internalizing pathology, which has been associated with differences observed in cognitive control processes in past studies of adult populations. The aim of the current study is to examine the potential relationship between trait worry and emotional interference during a cognitive control task in a population of adolescents. We hypothesized that higher levels of trait worry would be associated with better performance on negative vs. positive word trials, reflecting decreased inhibition of attention to negative information. Methods: The final sample for this study consisted of 67 adolescents (25 male, 42 female), ages 11 to 14 (M = 12.26, SD =1.02), who completed several self-report measures and an emotional Stroop task. A partial correlation analysis was performed between PSWQ-C total scores and emotional interference scores during the emotional Stroop task. Results: Findings indicate a significant correlation between trait worry and emotional interference during the emotional Stroop task, such that higher levels of trait worry were associated with more accurate identification of negatively valenced words, while lower levels of trait worry were associated with more accurate identification of positively valenced words. Limitations: These results should be interpreted within the context of several limitations, including a modest sample size and the use of self-report measures to determine pubertal status and trait worry. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate a difference in cognitive control processes present in adolescents with trait worry, which may inform a more in-depth understanding of the early determinants associated with internalizing pathology.