Open Access

ARTICLE

The components of threat-related attentional biases among individuals with different levels of sense of control

Shunying Zhao^1,2,*, Baojuan Ye^2,*, Min Rao², Yulan Guo¹

1 College of Education Science, Jiaying University, Meizhou, 514015, China
2 School of Psychology, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China

* Corresponding Authors: Shunying Zhao. Email: ; Baojuan Ye. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(4), 463-470. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.070060

Received 06 January 2025; Accepted 05 July 2025; Issue published 17 August 2025

Abstract

This study investigated how components of threat-related attentional biases are associated with levels of sense of control. Utilizing a using a spatial-cueing paradigm, 36 college students with a high sense of control (females = 22, M_age = 19.44, SD = 1.36) and 35 with a low sense of control (females = 15, M_age = 19.77, SD = 1.40) were assigned to task featuring different cue-target intervals (i.e., 50 and 800 ms). The student participants completed the Control Sense Scale, the GAD-7 Anxiety Scale, and the PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire. Data from employing spatial-cueing task procedure, would provide the evidence on any differences in attentional biases toward threat images between the two groups. A repeated measures ANOVA indicated that both groups to exhibit attentional avoidance under the 50 ms interval condition. However, individuals in the low sense of control group (i.e., LSC Group) demonstrated exacerbation of avoidance compared to those in the high sense of control group (i.e., HSC Group). The current study did not find any attentional bias components under the 800 ms interval condition. The findings provide preliminary evidence for a new vigilance-avoidance model for further study with a view to developing interventions targeting negative emotional disorders based on individuals’ sense of control.

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Keywords

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