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Stress and Brain 2022, 2(1-2): 5-16 https://doi.org/10.26599/SAB.2022.9060003
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 28 January 2022

Moderating role of overgeneral autobiographical memory in the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety

Show Author's Information Tianyu Liang1,§,  Yangming Xu1,§,  Weiwei Xiang1,  Ye Li1,  Wanying Zhang1,  Zhuolin Feng1,  Gongping Deng2( ),  Jing Xiao2( )
Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition and Department of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100037, China
Department of Emergency, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan 570311, China

§ Tianyu Liang and Yangming Xu contributed equally to this work.

Keywords:
dysfunctional attitudes, overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM), state anxiety, moderator
Cite this article:
Liang T, Xu Y, Xiang W, et al. Moderating role of overgeneral autobiographical memory in the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety. Stress and Brain, 2022, 2(1-2): 5-16. https://doi.org/10.26599/SAB.2022.9060003
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background:

Though previous studies have investigated the roles of dysfunctional attitudes and overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM) in depression, a few have focused on the relationships among dysfunctional attitudes, OGM, and anxiety. Moreover, the moderating role of OGM has received limited scholarly attention.

Aims:

This study investigated the relationships among dysfunctional attitudes, OGM, and anxiety, as well as the moderating role of OGM in the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety, in a sample of college students.

Method:

The sample consisted of 209 nonclinical college students aged between 17 and 23 years (mean age = 19.61 years; females: 76%). The study assessed dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety using self-report questionnaires, and evaluated OGM using the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT).

Results:

The results indicate that dysfunctional attitudes are risk factors of state anxiety and that OGM moderates the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety. Furthermore, we found that an increase in dysfunctional attitudes is associated with high levels of state anxiety in individuals who have low levels of OGM.

Conclusions:

OGM may act as an affect-regulation strategy, and thus may buffer the negative effect of dysfunctional attitudes on state anxiety.


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Abstract
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About this article

Moderating role of overgeneral autobiographical memory in the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety

Show Author's information Tianyu Liang1,§, Yangming Xu1,§, Weiwei Xiang1, Ye Li1, Wanying Zhang1, Zhuolin Feng1, Gongping Deng2( ), Jing Xiao2( )
Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition and Department of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100037, China
Department of Emergency, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan 570311, China

§ Tianyu Liang and Yangming Xu contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Background:

Though previous studies have investigated the roles of dysfunctional attitudes and overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM) in depression, a few have focused on the relationships among dysfunctional attitudes, OGM, and anxiety. Moreover, the moderating role of OGM has received limited scholarly attention.

Aims:

This study investigated the relationships among dysfunctional attitudes, OGM, and anxiety, as well as the moderating role of OGM in the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety, in a sample of college students.

Method:

The sample consisted of 209 nonclinical college students aged between 17 and 23 years (mean age = 19.61 years; females: 76%). The study assessed dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety using self-report questionnaires, and evaluated OGM using the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT).

Results:

The results indicate that dysfunctional attitudes are risk factors of state anxiety and that OGM moderates the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and state anxiety. Furthermore, we found that an increase in dysfunctional attitudes is associated with high levels of state anxiety in individuals who have low levels of OGM.

Conclusions:

OGM may act as an affect-regulation strategy, and thus may buffer the negative effect of dysfunctional attitudes on state anxiety.

Keywords: dysfunctional attitudes, overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM), state anxiety, moderator

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Publication history
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Publication history

Received: 19 June 2021
Revised: 12 October 2021
Accepted: 04 January 2022
Published: 28 January 2022
Issue date: June 2022

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2022

Acknowledgements

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31771223) and Social Science Key Project of Beijing Municipal Education Commission (No. SZ201810028014) awarded to Prof. Jing Xiao.

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