Patterns of attentional biases in children and emotional symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-wave longitudinal study

Abstract

Background. It is unknown how the patterns of negative and positive attentional biases in children predict fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study identified profiles of negative and positive attentional biases in children and examined their association with emotional symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method. 322 children were involved in a two-wave longitudinal study. Children completed the self-report assessment of fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression, and attention to positive and negative information in classrooms. After six months, they completed the second assessment of fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and depression in classrooms. Results. Higher fear of COVID-19 was related to higher anxiety and depression throughout the assessment period. Three profiles of negative and positive attentional biases were revealed in children. Children with a “moderate positive and high negative attentional biases” profile had significantly higher fear of COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety, and depression than children with a “high positive and moderate negative attentional biases” profile. Children with a “low positive and negative attentional biases” profile were not significantly different in fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and depression than those with the other two profiles. Conclusions. Patterns of negative and positive attentional biases were related to emotional symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. It might be important to consider children's overall patterns of negative and positive attentional biases to identify children at risk of higher emotional symptoms.