Judith Schäfer1, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen2, Michael Höfler3, Anke Heinrich4, Peter Zimmermann5, Stefan Siegel6, Sabine Schönfeld7. 1. Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Chemnitzer Str. 46, D-01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: judith.schaefer@tu-dresden.de. 2. Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Center of Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Chemnitzer Str. 46, D-01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: hans-ulrich.wittchen@tu-dresden.de. 3. Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Center of Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Chemnitzer Str. 46, D-01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: hoefler@psychologie.tu-dresden.de. 4. Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Center of Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Chemnitzer Str. 46, D-01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: Anke.Heinrich@tu-dresden.de. 5. German Armed Forces Center of Military Mental Health, Scharnhorststraße 13, D-10115 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: peter1zimmermann@bundeswehr.org. 6. German Armed Forces Center of Military Mental Health, Scharnhorststraße 13, D-10115 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: siegel@ptzbw.de. 7. Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Chemnitzer Str. 46, D-01187 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: schoenfeld@psychologie.tu-dresden.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Attentional processes have been suggested to play a crucial role in resilience defined as positive adaptation facing adversity. However, research is lacking on associations between attentional biases to positive and threat-related stimuli, attentional control and trait resilience. METHODS: Data stem from the follow-up assessment of a longitudinal study investigating mental health and related factors among German soldiers. Trait resilience was assessed with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and attentional control with the Attentional Control Scale. A subset of n = 198 soldiers also completed a dot probe task with happy, neutral and threatening faces. RESULTS: Attentional control was positively related to trait resilience. Results revealed no associations between both attentional biases and trait resilience. However, there was a negative association between attentional bias to threat and trait resilience when attentional control was low and a positive association between attentional bias to threat and trait resilience when attentional control was high. No such associations were found for attentional bias to positive stimuli. LIMITATIONS: Generalizability to other populations may be limited since we exclusively focused on male soldiers. Also, the cross-sectional design does not allow for causal conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that attentional processing may promote trait resilience. Future research on preventive interventions should consider these findings.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Attentional processes have been suggested to play a crucial role in resilience defined as positive adaptation facing adversity. However, research is lacking on associations between attentional biases to positive and threat-related stimuli, attentional control and trait resilience. METHODS: Data stem from the follow-up assessment of a longitudinal study investigating mental health and related factors among German soldiers. Trait resilience was assessed with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and attentional control with the Attentional Control Scale. A subset of n = 198 soldiers also completed a dot probe task with happy, neutral and threatening faces. RESULTS: Attentional control was positively related to trait resilience. Results revealed no associations between both attentional biases and trait resilience. However, there was a negative association between attentional bias to threat and trait resilience when attentional control was low and a positive association between attentional bias to threat and trait resilience when attentional control was high. No such associations were found for attentional bias to positive stimuli. LIMITATIONS: Generalizability to other populations may be limited since we exclusively focused on male soldiers. Also, the cross-sectional design does not allow for causal conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that attentional processing may promote trait resilience. Future research on preventive interventions should consider these findings.
Authors: Melissa A Polusny; Craig A Marquardt; Emily Hagel Campbell; Clarissa R Filetti; Valentin V Noël; Seth G Disner; Jonathan D Schaefer; Nicholas Davenport; Shmuel Lissek; Siamak Noorbaloochi; Scott R Sponheim; Christopher R Erbes Journal: Res Hum Dev Date: 2021-09-22