Development and validation of the Attention Bias Questionnaire (ABQ)

Omer Azriel*, Jennifer C. Britton, Chelsea D. Gober, Daniel S. Pine, Yair Bar-Haim

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Various psychopathologies are associated with threat-related attention biases, which are typically measured using mechanized behavioral tasks. While useful and objective, behavioral measures do not capture the subjective experience of biased attention in daily-living. To complement extant behavioral measures, we developed and validated a self-report measure of threat-related attention bias – the Attention Bias Questionnaire (ABQ). Methods: The ABQ consists of nine items reflecting the subjective experience of attention bias towards threats. To enable personalized relevance in threat-content, the general term “threat” was used, and respondents were instructed to refer to specific things that threaten them personally. In a set of five studies, the ABQ was developed and validated. Internal consistency, discriminant validity, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity were tested. Results: The ABQ emerged as a coherent and stable measure with two sub-scales: Engagement with Threat and Difficulty to Disengage from Threat. ABQ scores were positively correlated with trait anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD, and depression, as well as behaviorally measured attention bias. Conclusion: Assessing the subjective experience of threat-related attention bias can enrich existing knowledge about the cognitive mechanisms underlying psychopathology and complement extant behavioral bias measures in research and clinical evaluation.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1905
JournalInternational Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • attention bias
  • depression
  • questionnaire
  • social anxiety

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Development and validation of the Attention Bias Questionnaire (ABQ)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this