LE3 .A278 2023

2023

Bell, Kathryn

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Psychology

Psychology

The growing body of research suggests that trigger warnings are unhelpful in reducing distress associated with exposure to emotionally-provocative stimuli. Limited research, however, has been conducted on the potential benefits of using modified trigger warnings that encourage adaptive coping. The current study explored whether modifying traditional trigger warning language to encourage more adaptive responding to emotionally-provocative stimuli would reduce participants’ negative affect and increase engagement with distressing content. Participants were randomly assigned to either a traditional trigger warning, modified trigger warning or control group. Following display of a trigger warning or neutral message, negative affect (NA) was measured before (pre-stimuli NA) and after each distressing stimulus presentation (post-stimuli NA). Avoidant attention and the personal benefits, perceived drawbacks and emotional reactions to research participation were examined as well as the moderating effects of anxiety sensitivity and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) on NA and avoidant. A qualitative exploration of self-reported coping strategies used during the stimuli presentations was also conducted. No group differences in pre- and post-stimuli NA, avoidant attention, reactions to research participation or coping strategies were identified. Anxiety sensitivity and PTSS both had a significant main effect on pre- and post-stimuli NA but no moderating effects were observed on NA or avoidant attention. Qualitative results revealed a wide range of coping strategies however there were no differences in adaptive or maladaptive coping. The current study builds on the growing body of research highlighting the ineffectiveness of existing and modified trigger warnings that are employed with emotionally-provocative stimuli.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3958