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Item Ugh! Don’t get sick: disgust sensitivity contributes to health anxiety(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Byam, Layton; Penney, AlexanderHealth anxiety (HA) refers to persistent fears about experiencing or developing severe illnesses. HA has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and with dysfunctional health beliefs. However, some research has also indicated that the primary emotion of disgust may be associated with HA. The present study sought to investigate if a relationship exists between HA and disgust, even when controlling for OCD symptoms and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs about health. An undergraduate sample (N=552) completed online self-report questionnaires of HA, OCD symptoms, health-related-metacognitions, disgust propensity, and disgust sensitivity. Disgust propensity refers to the likelihood that a person will experience disgust, while disgust sensitivity refers to how strongly a person experiences disgust. OCD symptoms, health-related-metacognitions, disgust propensity, and disgust sensitivity all showed moderate to strong bivariate correlations with HA. A hierarchical multiple linear regression was conducted with HA as the dependent variable, OCD symptoms entered in the first step, health-related-metacognitions in the second step, and disgust propensity and disgust sensitivity in the third step. It was found that disgust sensitivity, but not disgust propensity, was a unique predicter of HA, even when controlling for both OCD symptoms and health-related-metacognitions. This finding suggests a person’s sensitivity to the emotion of disgust may play a role in HA, and that this relationship is not better accounted for by OCD symptoms or health-related-metacognitions. Techniques targeting disgust sensitivity could be a valuable addition to therapies aimed at HA, with interoceptive exposure to the feelings of disgust being a possible area for future research.Item Can’t stop worrying? Examining the mechanisms of generalized anxiety disorder(2023) Parkinson, Sydney; Penney, AlexanderIndividuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience excessive and chronic worry over various daily events. If left untreated, GAD tends to be impairing and chronic. Existing research has shown negative beliefs about worry (NBW), positive beliefs about worry (PBW), intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and fear of emotions to be associated with GAD. However, the existing research is primarily cross-sectional. The present longitudinal study examined whether changes in NBW, PBW, IU, and fear of emotions predict changes in pathological worry and GAD symptoms over time. Undergraduate psychology students (N = 372), pre-screened for high levels of worry, completed a series of online self-report measures assessing worry, GAD symptoms, NBW, PBW, IU, and fear of emotions. Participants completed the questionnaires again 4 months later. Changes in NBW, IU, and fears of emotions predicted changes in worry severity. Additionally, changes in NBW and IU were the only mechanisms to predict changes in GAD symptoms. Further, NBW was the strongest predictor of changes in both worry and GAD. These findings have implications for the understanding and treatment of GAD. Primarily targeting NBW, while incorporating IU and fear of emotions into therapy, may enhance the treatment of GAD.Item Do metacognitions contribute to health anxiety when controlling for OCD comorbidity?(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Byam, Layton; Penney, AlexanderPrevious research has found that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs about health are associated with health anxiety (HA), even when controlling for depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) overlaps with HA, but OCD symptoms have not been controlled for in prior studies that examined metacognitive beliefs about health. The current study examined if metacognitive beliefs about health remain associated with HA when OCD and anxiety sensitivity were accounted for. An undergraduate sample (N = 400) completed online self-report questionnaires of OCD symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, metacognitive beliefs about health, and HA. OCD symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, and metacognitive beliefs about health all showed moderate to strong bivariate correlations with HA. A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted where OCD symptoms were entered in the first step, anxiety sensitivity was entered in the second step, and metacognitive beliefs were entered in the last step. Metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability of illness-related thoughts, along with OCD symptoms and anxiety sensitivity about physical concerns, were found to be uniquely predictive of HA. These findings support previous research establishing a link between metacognitive beliefs and HA, and expand upon them by suggesting the relationship is not accounted for by OCD symptoms.Item Anxiety sensitivity, metacognitions, and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Penney, AlexanderPrevious research has established that anxiety sensitivity (AS) and metacognitions are both associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). AS consists of social concerns, cognitive concerns, and physical concerns about the negative impact of anxiety symptoms. Metacognitions are thoughts and beliefs about one’s cognitions, and both positive and negative beliefs about worry are key metacognitions in GAD. This study examined the unique contributions of these metacognitions and facets of AS on worry severity and GAD symptoms. An undergraduate sample (N = 150) completed self-report questionnaires of GAD symptoms, worry severity, AS, and metacognitions. Moderate to strong bivariate correlations were found between all variables. The results of multiple regression equations revealed that social concerns of AS, positive beliefs about worry, and negative beliefs about worry were uniquely associated with both GAD symptoms and worry severity. Additionally, negative beliefs about worry remained the only significant predictor of GAD symptoms when controlling for worry severity. These findings agree with previous research that negative beliefs about worry are a robust predictor of GAD symptoms. This serves to further highlight negative beliefs about worry’s connection with GAD, and indicates that therapists may wish to focus on negative beliefs about worry more than AS when treating GAD.Item Are metacognitions part of the common core cognitive vulnerability?(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Penney, AlexanderHong and colleagues have recently argued that anxiety and depression-related constructs like anxiety sensitivity (AS), intolerance of uncertainty, and ruminative style may be components of a broad general negative repetitive thinking style, known as the common core cognitive vulnerability. Despite similarities between AS and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, particularly between AS cognitive concerns and negative metacognitive beliefs about worry, there has been a lack of research examining commonalities between them. Examining AS and metacognitions together may help indicate if dysfunctional metacognitions should be considered another component of this larger cognitive vulnerability. In this study, an undergraduate sample (N=350) completed self-report questionnaires of AS and metacognitive beliefs. AS was assessed using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) with its three subscales measuring physically, socially, and cognitively focused concerns. Metacognitive beliefs were assessed using the Metacognition Questionaire-30 (MCQ-30), with its five subscales for positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about worry, cognitive confidence, need to control thoughts, and cognitive self-consciousness. An exploratory principal component analysis revealed the model of best fit was a one factor solution, with all eight subscales loading onto the factor. The cognitive subscale of the ASI-3 had the strongest loading on this factor, followed by negative beliefs about worry, and ASI-3 physical concerns. These findings demonstrate that marked similarities exist in the constructs that make up the subscales of the ASI-3 and MCQ-30. Further, the findings suggest that dysfunctional metacognitions may be another aspect of the proposed common core cognitive vulnerability. Implications for treatment and future research will be discussed.Item Research project: (-)-𝛂-pinene anxiolytic effects and boldness in zebrafish (Danio rerio)(2023) Stewart, Alycia; Hamilton, TrevorCanada has recently legalized cannabis, and this has resulted in an increased focus on genetic strains and chemical compounds in cannabis. Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and other plants that could have medicinal value. A terpene found in cannabis and other products is 𝛂-pinene. This study used (-)-𝛂-pinene to examine locomotion, anxiety-like behaviour, and boldness in zebrafish (Danio rerio) using a motion-tracking software system. The four experimental groups included a control, and (-)-𝛂-pinene groups at 0.01%, 0.02% and 0.1% (~n=15 each) and each fish was exposed for 10 minutes prior to being placed in the open field test and then the novel object approach test. The time in virtual zones in the arena, distance moved, velocity, meandering, high mobility and immobility of the fish were quantified. There was a significant difference observed between the control and 0.1% group in distance moved, velocity and high mobility in both tests. A significant difference was also found between the control and 0.1% group in time spent between virtual zones in the open field test. No significant differences were found in the other parameters and groups. Our results suggest that certain concentrations of (-)-𝛂-pinene may reduce anxiety-like behaviours in zebrafish and impact their locomotion. This research will be used to supplement previous findings as well as inform future research regarding the impacts of different terpenes.Item The terpene (-)-𝛂-pinene can alter locomotion in zebrafish (Danio rerio)(2023) Stewart, Alycia; Hamilton, TrevorCanada has recently legalized cannabis, and this has resulted in an increased focus on genetic strains and chemica l compounds in cannabis. Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and other plants that could have medicinal value. A terpene found in cannabis and other products is 𝛂-pinene. This study used (-)-𝛂-pinene to examine locomotion, anxiety-like behaviour, and boldness in zebrafish (Danio rerio) using a motion-tracking software system. The four experimental groups included a control, and (-)-𝛂-pinene groups at 0.01%, 0.02% and 0.1% (~n=15 each) and each fish was exposed for 10 minutes prior to being placed in the open field test and then the novel object approach test. The time in virtual zones in the arena, distance moved, velocity, meandering, high mobility and immobility of the fish were quantified. There was a significant difference observed between the control and 0.1% group in distance moved, velocity and high mobility in both tests. A significant difference was also found between the control and 0.1% group in time spent between virtual zones in the open field tes t. No significant differences were found in the other parameters and groups. Our results suggest that certain concentrations of (-)-𝛂-pinene may reduce anxiety-like behaviours in zebrafish and impact their locomotion. This research will be used to supplement previous findings as well as inform future research regarding the impacts of different terpenes.Item Does this LOOK like STALKING to you? factors associated with identification of stalking behaviours(2023) Robinson, Natasha; Peace, KristinePerceptions of stalking are highly variable, dependent upon personal definitions and experiences. For example, recent surveys have found that young persons view social media stalking as acceptable and not distressing. Similarly, popular media often depicts stalking variably as misguided romance to psychotic deviance. In Canada, legal definitions of stalking (criminal harassment) are predicated on the victim feeling fear for their personal safety. Given that stalking is a victim-defined crime, understanding the circumstances under which stalking is identified and reported is critical for awareness, support, and prevention efforts. The present study aims to evaluate stalking identification in relation to lived experience, beliefs/myth endorsement, and characteristics of the stalking incidents themselves (such as form, intensity, and escalation). Participants (N = 500+) will be provided vignettes that vary in accordance with our variables of interest. They will be asked to assess the scenarios and identify specific points at which they would identify the behaviours as stalking, fear-inducing, and when they would seek police intervention. We anticipate that participants who have not been stalked will fail to recognize harassing behaviours and may only view stalking as such when it involves frequent, intense, and physical episodes. That said, those with lived experience related to stalking may vary more, with the possibility of lowered recognition of stalking cues (as depictions may differ from personal experience) or greater sensitivity to stalking cues and earlier identification. Empirical studies on how stalking is perceived remain limited, despite widespread implications for victims, support, and criminal justice.Item Lateralization of facial emotion recognition in the human cerebellum: a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) study(2023) Slade, Sophia A.; Striemer, ChristopherThe cerebellum, one of the oldest structures in the nervous system, is well-known for the important role it plays in the coordination and timing of movement. However, there has been a paradigm shift with recent clinical, neuroimaging, and experimental research suggesting that the cerebellum also plays a role in higher-order cognitive functions such as attention and emotion. The substantial increase in research regarding the cerebellum's ability for emotional processing has indicated that it may be particularly adept at recognizing and processing negative facial expressions (e.g., fear, anger, sadness). Previous research using functional brain imaging and patients with cerebellar brain injuries provide some evidence of cerebellar lateralization, with the left cerebellum being more specialized for processing emotions than the right. To examine this, we delivered transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left cerebellum of 67 healthy participants, randomly assigned to a tDCS condition (anodal, cathodal, or sham), and had them complete a facial emotion recognition task pre-tDCS, during-tDCS, and post-tDCS. Anodal and cathodal cerebellar tDCS did not significantly alter participant reaction time and accuracy. Participants did get faster, less variable, and more accurate over time, especially for positive emotions (happy), compared to negative emotions (angry and sad). However, due to relatively limited research examining the role of the cerebellum in emotion processes, and the limitations of the current study, we cannot say for certain why there were no effects of tDCS.Item Individual differences in inhibitory control: the associations between the “automatic pilot,” executive function, and executive attention(2023) Otte, Branden; Striemer, ChristopherResearch has demonstrated that the visuomotor system can rapidly correct ongoing movements following abrupt changes in a target's location. These “online corrections” can precede conscious awareness, and can occur even when participants are instructed not to correct. This “automatic pilot” is controlled by the dorsal visual stream, which plays a critical role in visually guided actions. These inadvertent corrections commonly occur during the Automatic Pilot Task – a procedure sensitive to errors in movement inhibition. Response inhibition is a component of executive function, which is governed, in part, by the right inferior frontal cortex, and a series of fronto-basal-ganglia networks. Response inhibition, however, is not a unitary construct, and has various facets. It is currently unclear whether the mechanisms that inhibit automatic movement corrections in the dorsal stream share common cognitive and neural substrates with other aspects of executive attention or executive function. Therefore, this study will investigate whether unintended corrections in the Automatic Pilot Task are related to other measures of executive attention, such as the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) and the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), as well as measures of executive function such as the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), and the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function for Adults (BRIEF-A). If the mechanisms that inhibit the “automatic pilot” share common substrates with executive attention and executive control, then increases in unintended corrections in the Automatic Pilot Task should be associated with increased errors on the SART, and poorer scores on the ASRS, CFQ, and BRIEF-A.Item Parasocial relationships and materialism in the media: the moderating role of motivation(2023) Woods, Emily; Watson, DavidThe literature has identified a positive relationship between materialism and social media intensity, as well as between materialism and celebrity worship. However, the literature on the relationship between materialism and parasocial relationships needs to be more thorough. Parasocial relationships are characterized by the one-sided online relationship audience members experience with media influencers, and materialism is when individuals hold values that prioritize image, popularity, making a lot of money, and having a lot of possessions. Previous studies have identified how materialism is related to the processes engaged in during extensive media consumption, as well as the attitudes involved in the increase in materialism as a function of celebrity worship, particularly envy. This study is aimed at expanding on a recently developed social comparison framework and determining whether the differing attitudes consumers hold regarding the fortunes-of-influencers (FOI) and their differing motivations behind media usage (process and social) are related to parasocial relationship intensity (PSI) and resulting materialistic outcomes. We will employ a correlational analysis using a sample of MacEwan first year students, the majority of which aged 18-24, who report frequent activity on social media, assessing the relationship between social comparison engagement, social media processes, FOI, PSI, and materialistic outcomes. The results and conclusion will be reported at a later date once the data has been collected.Item Examining anxiety sensitivity, metacognitions, and anxiety symptoms(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Penney, AlexanderGeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) is defined by chronic, distressing worry regarding multiple areas of a person’s life. One thought pattern that is known to contribute to GAD symptoms is anxiety sensitivity (AS). AS can be thought of as the fear of anxiety and its consequences. Two other thought patterns that contribute to GAD are positive beliefs about worry (PBW) and negative beliefs about worry (NBW). PBW refers to beliefs that worry is a positive tool for things like problem solving. NBW refers to beliefs that worrying is harmful or uncontrollable. While both PBW and NBW are related to GAD, NBW’s relationship is much stronger. In Fall 2022, I conducted a study that examined how PBW and NBW interact with AS to contribute to GAD. Given NBW’s much stronger relationship with GAD than PBW, I predicted that only NBW would interact with AS to contribute to GAD symptoms. Data from 573 student self-reports showed that AS, NBW, and PBW all independently related to GAD without relying on one another. However, these findings may have been affected by an abnormally anxious student sample. Given this, a second running of this study with a non-student sample is planned, which will additionally examine how fears of uncertain future events, as well as tendencies to experience negative emotions, are associated with GAD. While these preliminary findings were unexpected, they provide a valuable foundation for future research, and may be relevant to understanding how different thought patterns can contribute to the same disorder.Item A comparison of student achievement across pedagogical modalities(2023) Bown, Erica; Moscicki, MicheleRecent research provides evidence that students’ active participation in course activities creates stronger connections and enables deeper levels of information processing and learning compared to passive teaching and learning methods (Nurbavliyev et al., 2022). The present study investigated the relationship between active and passive learning across different pedagogical modalities and its effect on academic performance. We hypothesized that students in the active learning group would perform better academically than students in the passive learning group. Participants were students enrolled in hybrid or in-person PSYC 105 courses at MacEwan University. Our sample size for our analyses related to academic performance included 24 participants, 14 from the active group and 10 from the passive group. Our sample size for our correlational analyses included 97 participants. Throughout the semester, participants in the active condition completed activities and participants in the passive condition heard a lecture. Academic performance was measured based on participants’ performance on eight standardized multiple-choice questions embedded into each class's midterm and final exams, and overall midterm and final exam grades. We also investigated if certain student characteristics moderate the effect of activities on retention. Participants filled out questionnaire items assessing personality, self-regulation, procrastination, and test anxiety. Our results showed that students in the active learning condition performed better than those in the passive learning condition. We also found a moderately positive relationship between procrastination and test anxiety, and neuroticism and test anxiety. These results illustrate the potential benefits of universities offering more opportunities for active learning on students’ academic performance.Item Does a growth mindset reduce procrastination and perfectionism?(2023) Bown, Erica; Moscicki, MicheleResearch has consistently found a positive relationship between fear of failure (FoF) and both perfectionism and procrastination, which are both positively correlated with stress. Many university students report high levels of perfectionism, procrastination, and stress; thus, interventions to help reduce these characteristics are needed. Individuals who have a growth mindset (GM) are more likely to view challenges and failures as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as obstacles. The present study investigated the effect of a GM intervention on procrastination and negative perfectionism. We hypothesized that students who received the GM intervention would report lower procrastination due to FoF and lower negative perfectionism than students who did not receive the GM intervention. In Part 1, all participants completed questionnaires assessing personality, stress, perfectionism, procrastination, and GM. Participants in the GM intervention group were shown a video and infographic about GM and its benefits and were sent reminder emails about the benefits of GM once a week for four weeks. After four weeks, participants completed all measures again. Our results show that the GM intervention failed to produce any significant changes in GM, negative perfectionism, and procrastination due to FoF. We further show positive relationships between stress and both procrastination due to FoF and negative perfectionism. Future research will investigate a more effective GM intervention. Our results confirm that university students’ stress is highly associated with negative perfectionism and procrastination due to FoF and that students may benefit from stress reduction methods that specifically target perfectionism and FoF.Item Language effects on emotion recognition in adult listeners(2023) Badiru, Monisola; Vongpaisal, TaraIn an increasingly multicultural society, perception and understanding of emotions expressed by talkers across different languages are important for meaningful and effective social communication. The purpose of this study is to examine language effects on listeners’ ability to recognize emotions, specifically in individuals who speak English as their first language. Adult participants listened to sentences spoken in English and Yorùbá and identified whether the talker was happy, sad, angry, or neutral. Tonal languages such as Yorùbá are characterized by more variance in pitch compared to stress-based languages such as English. Therefore, we predicted that adult participants whose first language is English will have more difficulty recognizing emotions in Yorùbá than in English. The findings of this study will have implications in expanding our knowledge about the perception of emotions in different language contexts. It will also help us understand language effects on emotion recognition in other special populations, including children impacted by hearing loss.Item Combating internalized homophobia: protective factors and their effectiveness(2023) Kostiuk, Jared; Offrey, LauraInternalized homophobia is an adverse consequence that emerges in societies characterized by heteronormativity. Individuals – both sexual minorities and heterosexuals – who are exposed to heterosexual norms as well as unfavourable portrayals of sexual minorities may internalize, or take in, these negative depictions. Deviations from the heterosexual norm may be perceived as ‘unnatural,’ ‘unacceptable,’ or ‘repugnant’ by sexual minorities and heterosexuals alike, and some of these views may be completely unconscious. Sexual minorities are at heightened risk of experiencing various psychological, behavioural, and social distress due to internalized homophobia, whether it is directed at the self or others. Therefore, it is crucial to uncover various factors that protect against internalizing deleterious views of sexual minorities. To this end, the present study investigated four plausible protective factors: self-esteem, social network quality, education level, and degree of exposure to positive portrayals of sexual minorities. The participants included MacEwan University students, as well as recruited sexual minority participants in an attempt to obtain a representative sample. Each participant’s level of internalized homophobia was assessed, and the results were compared to each of the four variables to determine whether any of them had a beneficial impact on preventing the development of internalized homophobia. The current study’s primary objectives are to identify factors that could help those suffering from the adverse effects of internalized homophobia and thereby improve the overall well-being of sexual minorities.Item Criminogenic needs based on sexual assault typologies(2022) Thomas, Mackenzie; Jung, SandyPeople have an intrinsic desire to understand other people’s behaviour, especially when considered socially deviant or abnormal. This fascination has led to several theoretical and empirically-based typologies for criminal behaviour, including sexual assault. These are typically based on the premise that those who commit sexual assault have different individual characteristics. The greater knowledge we gain to identify diverse groups of these individuals may help us understand the characteristics associated with their sexual offending. The current study examines the typology proposed by Knight and Prentky (1990). The Massachusetts Treatment Center Rapist Typology, Version 3 (MTC: R3) identifies five general categories of rapists, four of which are examined in the current study. These categories include opportunistic, pervasively angry, vindictive, and sexual types. Using a sample of 300 individuals who have been investigated for sexual assault, the present study categorizes these individuals into one of these typologies. This research identifies potentially unique attributes for each subtype, and it is hypothesized that these subtypes will present with different individual characteristics, including criminogenic needs, depending on the type of motivation that reflects a particular individual who sexually offends. The practical implications of this study for criminal justice professionals, such as police, will be discussed, and it is hoped that our findings will increase our understanding of individuals who have committed sexual offences.Item It’s a burden but… having a sibling with Prader Willi syndrome: stress, growth, and perceived burden(2022) French, Darcy; Rogers, SeanPrader Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 15000 live births worldwide that presents a spectrum of physiological and neurological-related health challenges. PWS has been extensively studied as it affects parents, however, research on sibling interaction is limited. This study examined to what extent neurotypical siblings with a brother or sister with PWS experience stress in daily life, is there a feeling of growth as a result, and are feelings of burden higher when compared to the general population. Using the Perceived Stress Scale 10, the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, and the Zarit Burden Interview questionnaires, a comparison between families with a neurotypical -PWS sibling dynamic and non-PWS – sibling dynamic was conducted. The findings between the control and experimental groups indicated similar stress levels, and both groups indicated a moderately high level of stress. No statistically significant difference in personal growth was present. The perception of burden was significantly higher for the neurotypical-PWS group versus the control group. The details of the results indicated that the relationship dynamic between PWS-neurotypical siblings requires further research, and the use of different survey tools may be warranted to better explore this population.Item When worriers avoid their thoughts: cognitive avoidance predicts comorbid symptoms(2022) Parkinson, Sydney; Penney, AlexanderPrevious research has shown that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with several dysfunctional cognitive thinking styles and beliefs. While these different thinking styles and beliefs have been associated with GAD symptoms, they may also play a role in comorbid symptoms. Therefore, this study examined which dysfunctional thinking styles and beliefs common to GAD are associated with a range of emotional disorder symptoms in a group of chronic worriers. Specifically, we examined symptoms of anxiety-related disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder. A sample of undergraduate students, pre-screened for a high degree of worry (N = 565), completed online self-report measures. Questionnaires assessed symptoms of the following disorders: GAD, social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder (PD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), health anxiety (HA), depression, and bipolar disorder. Dysfunctional thinking styles and beliefs measured include: metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty, cognitive avoidance, negative problem orientation, fear of depression, and fear of anxiety. Although different thinking styles and beliefs were associated with each set of symptoms, regression analyses revealed that cognitive avoidance emerged as the only significant predictor across all symptom categories, with the exception of GAD. Although cognitive avoidance has been primarily explored within the GAD literature, these findings suggest that future research should also examine cognitive avoidance in SAD, PD, PTSD, OCD, HA, depression, and bipolar disorder. Additionally, when treating these disorders, or when working with anxious clients with comorbid disorders, therapists may wish to consider targeting cognitive avoidance, such as through written exposure exercises.Item Testing an online worry induction procedure(2022) Parkinson, Sydney; Penney, AlexanderIn-person worry induction procedures effectively induce increases in state worry, negative affect, and anxiety. However, the efficacy of conducting a worry induction online has yet to be examined. This study investigated the effectiveness of an online worry induction, as well as the predictors of an individual’s emotional response to the induction. A sample of 268 undergraduates completed online self-report measures of worry, GAD symptoms, state positive affect (PA), state negative affect (NA), and state anxiety. Participants were then prompted to worry for 5 minutes, after which they completed the measures of PA, NA, and anxiety a second time. As expected, the participants experienced an increase in NA and anxiety, as well as a decrease in PA. GAD symptoms and trait worry severity were both found to predict changes in NA and anxiety, but neither predicted changes in PA. Further, the magnitude of the emotional changes was less pronounced than was observed in a previous in-person worry induction. Our findings suggest that an online worry induction can lead to reported increases in overall distress, and appear to reflect trait levels of worry severity and GAD symptoms. However, the intensity of the worry appears to be less pronounced than in-person induction procedures. Potential methods for improving an online worry induction will be discussed.