Negative Interpretation Bias Connects to Real-World Daily Affect: A Multistudy Approach

Authors

Nikki A. Puccetti, University of Miami
William J. Villano, University of Miami
Caitlin A. Stamatis, University of Miami, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Kimberly Arditte Hall, Framingham State University
Vilet F. Torrez, University of Miami
Maital Neta, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Kiara R. Timpano, University of Miami
Aaron S. Heller, University of Miami

Date of this Version

9-5-2023

Citation

J Exp Psychol Gen. 2023 June ; 152(6): 1690–1704. doi:10.1037/xge0001351.

Comments

HHS Public Access

Abstract

Negative interpretation bias, the tendency to appraise ambiguous stimuli as threatening, shapes our emotional lives. Various laboratory tasks, which differ in stimuli features and task procedures, can quantify negative interpretation bias. However, it is unknown whether these tasks globally predict individual differences in real-world negative (NA) and positive (PA) affect. Across two studies, we tested whether different lab-based negative interpretation bias tasks predict daily NA and PA, measured via mobile phone across months. To quantify negative interpretation bias, Study 1 (N = 69) used a verbal, self-referential task whereas Study 2 (N = 110) used a perceptual, emotional image task with faces and scenes. Across tasks, negative interpretation bias was linked to heightened daily NA. However, only negative interpretation bias in response to ambiguous faces was related to decreased daily PA. These results illustrate the ecological validity of negative interpretation bias tasks and highlight converging and unique relationships between distinct tasks and naturalistic emotion.