Abstract

MENDES FERRER ROSA, Natália et al. Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Modulate the Recognition of Facial Emotion. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2017, vol.16, n.4, pp.328-333. ISSN 1657-9267.  https://doi.org/10.11144/javeriana.upsy16-4.sadm.

Previous studies have shown that depression and anxiety are associated to changes in the recognition of facial expression. In the present research, a non-clinical sample was evaluated with respect to trait and state anxiety and depression symptoms. In the experimental task, participants evaluated facial expressions of happiness, anger, sadness, and fear, presented at four intensities (25, 50, 75, and 100%), as well as the neutral face. Results showed that the trait anxiety was associated with a better recognition of anger, fear, and happiness. For depression, we only found differences between groups for emotional attribution to neutral faces, in which participants scoring high in depression were more likely to attribute fear to neutral faces. Findings indicate an improvement of the recognition of happiness, anger, and fear in trait anxiety, whereas symptoms of depression and state anxiety were associated to changes in the evaluation of neutral faces in non-clinical individuals.

Keywords : anxiety; depression; facial expression; emotion.

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