title: Attentional and interpretative biases in appearance concern: An investigation of biases in appearance-related information processing.
abstract: The present study examined associations between high levels of appearance concern and information processing biases in interpretation and attention. An opportunity sample (N=79) categorised ambiguous stimuli as related or unrelated to appearance. Participants then responded to the same stimuli in a modified visual dot-probe task assessing attentional bias. Participant responses were assessed in relation to level of appearance concern. The results indicated a valence specific bias towards interpretation of ambiguous stimuli as negative and appearance-related in individuals with higher levels of concern. There was also evidence of attentional bias towards information perceived as appearance-related in participants with higher levels of appearance concern. The study findings suggest that association between appearance-orientated information processing biases and level of appearance concern; this association may lead to mutually reinforcing bias and concern.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom. b.rosser@bath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rosser
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Nichola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rumsey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D001828:Body Image; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult