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Testing the Cognitive Control Model of Pathological Worry Using Objective Measures of Cognitive Control and Autonomic Arousal

Free, Matthew Lee
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483459077464123

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Pathological worry has been associated with both blunted and heightened autonomic arousal (AA). The role AA plays in the maintenance of pathological worry has been emphasized by two different models. Accounting for individuals who experience reduced AA during worry, the Cognitive Avoidance Model suggests that such a reduction in AA negatively reinforces the use of worry as an avoidant strategy. For those who experience heightened AA during worry, the Contrast Avoidance Model suggests that generating and maintaining elevated AA protects against sudden shifts in emotions, which some individuals find aversive. In turn, worry is negatively reinforced. Neither model alone can account for the well-documented heterogeneity in level of AA among pathological worriers. A new, integrative model posits that individual differences in effortful control (EC) can account for such heterogeneity. It suggests that EC conveys ability to effortfully shift attention to a verbal mode of processing, which, unlike imaginal processing, is associated with reduced AA. Initial tests of that model have yielded promising results, but they have so far exclusively relied on subjective EC and AA. The current study sought to extend prior findings by testing the model using mean heart rate (HR) as an objective measure of AA, and an index of vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV) as an objective measure of EC. We did so in a large, non-clinical sample of undergraduate students (N = 286). As predicted, worry and GAD symptom severity interacted with EC in prediction of mean HR. In addition, EC was negatively associated with HR when worry/GAD symptoms were high. Results provide partial support for the model using HRV as a proxy for EC. This is the first study to test the Cognitive Control Model using objective measures of AA and EC; while results are promising, replication is clearly needed.
Michael Vasey, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Amelia Aldao, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Julian Thayer, Ph.D (Committee Member)
58 p.
Clinical Psychology
worry, generalized anxiety disorder, GAD, cognitive control model, HRV, autonomic arousal

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Free, M. L. (2017). Testing the Cognitive Control Model of Pathological Worry Using Objective Measures of Cognitive Control and Autonomic Arousal [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483459077464123

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Free, Matthew. Testing the Cognitive Control Model of Pathological Worry Using Objective Measures of Cognitive Control and Autonomic Arousal. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483459077464123.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Free, Matthew. "Testing the Cognitive Control Model of Pathological Worry Using Objective Measures of Cognitive Control and Autonomic Arousal." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1483459077464123

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.