Implicit and Explicit Memory Bias to Negative Emotional Information Processing in Adolescents with High and Low Trait Anxiety

The goal of this research was an investigation into the implicit and explicit memory bias against negative emotional information processing in adolescents with high and low trait anxiety. To do so, 2 adolescent groups of twenty with high trait (n=20) and low trait (n=20) were selected from a large pole of adolescents using Spielbergr’s State-Trait Anxiety inventory for Children (STAI-C). Following the two groups were matched in terms of variables including age, sex,and education level, Explicit Memory Test(EMT) and Implicit Memory Test(IMT),completing word stems, were used to assess the subjects. The stimulants, emotional items, included two series of threatening and neutral words in EXP and a set of ambiguous words. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between high trait and low trait anxiety groups in terms of subject sensitivity and bias against threatening and neutral stimulants. However, high trait group had completed words stems more than low trait group in implicit memory test. These results indicated the presence of implicit memory bias in high trait group. Generally, the results of the present research are in accord with other researches and support the principles governing memory bias and trait anxiety.