Relations Between Cumulative Risk and Hostile Attributional Bias in Middle Childhood: A Preliminary Examination
Date
2016-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The goal of the current study was to examine relations between cumulative risk
in early childhood and hostile attributional bias at age eight. Cumulative risk was
measured using the Life Events Calendar, a semi-structured parent interview about
risk factors during their child’s first eight years of life. For each of the 30 children in
the sample, Total, Social, and Child Mental Health Risk indices were determined.
Hostile attributional bias was assessed using the Social Information Processing
Application (SIP-AP), a web-based, computerized measure developed to assess social
information-processing. Children answered 15 multiple choice questions after each
vignette, four of which were averaged to determine a Hostile Attributions composite
for each child. Preliminary correlations between risk indices were significant as were
preliminary analyses of cue interpretation variables. Correlations between cumulative
risk and hostile attributional bias did not support the hypothesis, suggesting that
further research should examine the relationship between risk factors in childhood and
hostile attributional bias at age eight in a larger sample. If a relationship exists, future
research should also identify potential mediators and moderators of this relationship.
Description
Keywords
middle childhood, cognitive science