Abstract
Behavioral inhibition (BI) has been associated with the development of internalizing disorders in children and adolescents.
It has further been shown that attentional control (AC) is negatively associated with internalizing problems. The combination
of high BI and low AC may particularly lead to elevated symptomatology of internalizing behavior. This study broadens existing
knowledge by investigating the additive and interacting effects of BI and AC on the various DSM-IV based internalizing dimensions.
A sample of non-clinical adolescents (N = 1806, age M = 13.6 years), completed the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral
Activation System Scales (BIS/BAS), the attentional control subscale of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) and the
Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). As expected, BI was positively, and AC was negatively related to internalizing
dimensions, with stronger associations of BI than of AC with anxiety symptoms, and a stronger association of AC than of BI
with depressive symptoms. AC moderated the association between BI and all measured internalizing dimensions (i.e., symptoms
of generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder,
and major depressive disorder). Since high AC may reduce the impact of high BI on the generation of internalizing symptoms,
an intervention focused on changing AC may have potential for prevention and treatment of internalizing disorders.
It has further been shown that attentional control (AC) is negatively associated with internalizing problems. The combination
of high BI and low AC may particularly lead to elevated symptomatology of internalizing behavior. This study broadens existing
knowledge by investigating the additive and interacting effects of BI and AC on the various DSM-IV based internalizing dimensions.
A sample of non-clinical adolescents (N = 1806, age M = 13.6 years), completed the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral
Activation System Scales (BIS/BAS), the attentional control subscale of the Adult Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) and the
Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). As expected, BI was positively, and AC was negatively related to internalizing
dimensions, with stronger associations of BI than of AC with anxiety symptoms, and a stronger association of AC than of BI
with depressive symptoms. AC moderated the association between BI and all measured internalizing dimensions (i.e., symptoms
of generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder,
and major depressive disorder). Since high AC may reduce the impact of high BI on the generation of internalizing symptoms,
an intervention focused on changing AC may have potential for prevention and treatment of internalizing disorders.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-010-9435-y
- Authors
- B. Esther Sportel, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P. O. Box 660, 9700 AR Groningen, The Netherlands
- Maaike H. Nauta, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P. O. Box 660, 9700 AR Groningen, The Netherlands
- Eva de Hullu, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
- Peter J. de Jong, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
- Catharina A. Hartman, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P. O. Box 660, 9700 AR Groningen, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024