Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background and Aims. Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) has been found to be \neffective in promoting positive interpretations and mood in adults, including those \nwith symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, only four studies have been \nconducted in adolescent populations. This study therefore aimed to further \ninvestigate the effects of CBM in adolescents, including those who have higher risk \nfor developing depression by virtue of neuroticism. Method. This study adopted a \nbetween-groups experimental design across three time points. Seventy-four \nadolescents aged 16 – 18 were randomised into receiving either two sessions of \nCBM or control intervention. Their interpretation bias and mood were measured at \nbaseline, immediately post-training and one week afterwards. Stress vulnerability \nwas assessed using a novel experimental stressor; participants were also asked to \nreport their daily mood and stressful events over one week. Feedback was collected. \nResults. The CBM group showed a greater reduction in negative affect than the \ncontrol. In addition, the CBM group did not show the increase in state anxiety as \nseen in control participants. However, CBM did not show superior benefits in other \noutcome measures. Both groups displayed an increase in positive interpretations, a \ndecrease in negative interpretations, and a reduction in depressive symptoms. The \ntwo groups did not differ in their responses to stress. Participants with higher scores \non neuroticism showed higher levels of negative interpretation bias, mood symptoms \nand stress vulnerability. However, there was no evidence to suggest that neuroticism \nacts as a moderator of training effects. Feedback from participants was mostly \npositive. Conclusion. Overall, this study has not yielded strong supportive evidence \nfor the use of CBM in healthy or vulnerable adolescents. Despite methodological \nlimitations, this study has broadened the evidence base of CBM in adolescent populations. It also represents an important step in developing CBM as a preventive intervention for vulnerable adolescents.
Author: Stella W. Y. Chan
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W817523198