Predicting internalizing symptoms over a two year period by BIS, FFFS and attentional control

► Pretest and two year follow-up in adolescents regarding internalizing symptoms. ► Predictive value of BIS, FFFS and attentional control in adolescents. ► Controlling for pretest internalizing symptoms BIS, FFFS have no additive value. ► Attentional control predicts depression symptoms in adolescen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personality and individual differences Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 236 - 240
Main Authors: Sportel, B. Esther, Nauta, Maaike H., de Hullu, Eva, de Jong, Peter J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2013
Elsevier
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Summary:► Pretest and two year follow-up in adolescents regarding internalizing symptoms. ► Predictive value of BIS, FFFS and attentional control in adolescents. ► Controlling for pretest internalizing symptoms BIS, FFFS have no additive value. ► Attentional control predicts depression symptoms in adolescents. Identifying risk factors for the development of internalizing disorders is of major importance. In this context, behavioral inhibition (BIS), the fight-flight-freeze-system (FFFS), and attentional control (AC) have been proposed as being possible risk factors for both anxiety disorders and depression. Even though related cross-sectionally, it is still unclear whether these factors are precursors for internalizing disorders. In this longitudinal study, 1811 participants (aged 12–15) completed questionnaires on BIS/FFFS, AC, and internalizing symptoms at pretest and at two year follow-up. Supporting the alleged importance of BIS/FFFS and AC in the development of internalizing symptoms, BIS/FFFS and AC showed predictive value for anxiety and depression symptoms at two year follow-up. For anxiety symptoms this predictive value was not independent of the level of symptoms at pretest. For depression symptoms, AC showed predictive value over and above pretest level of depression symptoms. In the context of early detection of at risk adolescents, results suggest that screening of current anxiety and depression symptoms is most relevant in addition to a focus on AC for the screening of depression. However, it cannot be ruled out that at a further extended follow-up also BIS/FFFS might show independent predictive value for symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.
ISSN:0191-8869
1873-3549
DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2012.08.043