Early Experiences of Threat, Attentional Avoidance of Fearful Facial Expressions, and Subsequent Internalizing Problems in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Investigation.
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| Title: | Early Experiences of Threat, Attentional Avoidance of Fearful Facial Expressions, and Subsequent Internalizing Problems in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Investigation. |
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| Authors: | Buthmann, Jessica (AUTHOR), Gotlib, Ian (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Cognitive Therapy & Research. Dec2025, Vol. 49 Issue 6, p1132-1143. 12p. |
| Subjects: | Attentional bias, Mental health, Emotional trauma, Mental depression, Gender differences (Psychology), Facial expression, Longitudinal method, Teenagers |
| Abstract: | Purpose: Internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression, in adolescents have been characterized by biases in their attention to negatively valenced stimuli. Further, exposure to early life stress (ELS) has consistently been associated with risk for internalizing disorders. Our goal was to test whether attention bias mediates the association between ELS and internalizing problems. Researchers have begun to differentiate between ELS characterized by threats to safety and ELS characterized by deprivation of resources. However, we do not know whether ELS characterized by threat or deprivation is associated with attentional biases, or whether there are sex differences in these associations. It is also not clear whether threat- and deprivation-related ELS is related to a bias toward or away from negatively valenced stimuli. Methods: We administered a dot-probe task to assess bias toward fearful, sad, happy, and neutral faces to a sample of adolescents (N = 103, Mage=9–13 years) who reported on their history of exposure to ELS at a baseline assessment and on their internalizing problems four years later. Results: We found that threat-related ELS was associated in girls with a bias away from fearful faces (when paired with neutral faces) and in boys with a bias toward fearful faces. Further, these biases mediated the association of threat-related ELS with subsequent internalizing problems; bias toward sad and happy faces did not mediate these associations. Conclusions: Early experiences of threat may sensitize girls to avoid stimuli that signal the potential for harm, while leading boys to be more attuned to these cues, which, in turn, could increase their likelihood of experiencing internalizing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Purpose: Internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression, in adolescents have been characterized by biases in their attention to negatively valenced stimuli. Further, exposure to early life stress (ELS) has consistently been associated with risk for internalizing disorders. Our goal was to test whether attention bias mediates the association between ELS and internalizing problems. Researchers have begun to differentiate between ELS characterized by threats to safety and ELS characterized by deprivation of resources. However, we do not know whether ELS characterized by threat or deprivation is associated with attentional biases, or whether there are sex differences in these associations. It is also not clear whether threat- and deprivation-related ELS is related to a bias toward or away from negatively valenced stimuli. Methods: We administered a dot-probe task to assess bias toward fearful, sad, happy, and neutral faces to a sample of adolescents (N = 103, Mage=9–13 years) who reported on their history of exposure to ELS at a baseline assessment and on their internalizing problems four years later. Results: We found that threat-related ELS was associated in girls with a bias away from fearful faces (when paired with neutral faces) and in boys with a bias toward fearful faces. Further, these biases mediated the association of threat-related ELS with subsequent internalizing problems; bias toward sad and happy faces did not mediate these associations. Conclusions: Early experiences of threat may sensitize girls to avoid stimuli that signal the potential for harm, while leading boys to be more attuned to these cues, which, in turn, could increase their likelihood of experiencing internalizing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 01475916 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10608-025-10613-1 |
