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    Food-related attentional bias. Word versus pictorial stimuli and the importance of stimuli calorific value in the dot probe task

    200907_200907a.pdf (1.089Mb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Freijy, T.
    Mullan, Barbara
    Sharpe, L.
    Date
    2014
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Freijy, T. and Mullan, B. and Sharpe, L. 2014. Food-related attentional bias. Word versus pictorial stimuli and the importance of stimuli calorific value in the dot probe task. Appetite. 83: pp. 202-208.
    Source Title
    Appetite
    DOI
    10.1016/j.appet.2014.08.037
    ISSN
    0195-6663
    School
    School of Psychology
    Remarks

    NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in the journal Appetite. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in the journal Appetite, Vol.83 (2014). DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.08.037

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37639
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Objective: The primary aim of this study was to extend previous research on food-related attentional biases by examining biases towards pictorial versus word stimuli, and foods of high versus low calorific value. It was expected that participants would demonstrate greater biases to pictures over words and to high calorie over low-calorie foods. A secondary aim was to examine associations between BMI, dietary restraint, external eating and attentional biases. It was expected that high scores on these individual difference variables would be associated with a bias towards high-calorie stimuli. Methods: Undergraduates (N = 99) completed a dot probe task including matched word and pictorial food stimuli in a controlled setting. Questionnaires assessing eating behaviour were administered, and height and weight were measured. Results: Contrary to predictions, there were no main effects for stimuli type (pictures vs words) or calorific value (high vs low). There was, however, a significant interaction effect suggesting a bias towards high-calorie pictures, but away from high-calorie words; and a bias towards low-calorie words, but away from low-calorie pictures. No associations between attentional bias and any of the individual difference variables were found. Discussion: The presence of a stimulus type by calorific value interaction demonstrates the importance of stimuli type in the dot probe task, and may help to explain inconsistencies in prior research. Further research is needed to clarify associations between attentional bias and BMI, restraint, and external eating.

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