ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the relationship between negative attentional bias and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) in the context of higher depression and anxiety symptoms after the outbreak of COVID-19, so as to provide scientific basis for mental health education in primary and secondary schools. Methods: From March to April 2021, a total of 708 students from primary school and junior high school (grade 6 through grade 9) in Beijing, Shanxi, Hunan, Shandong, Hebei, Hubei of China were selected. The Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale(CRIES), the Attention to Positive and Negative Information Scale (APNI)and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21(DASS-21) were used in a questionnaire survey. Results: A total of 242 students were diagnosed with PTSD, and the detection rate was 34.2%. The scores of intrusion and high arousal of boys(7.92+or-5.33, 8.60+or-5.41) were lower than those of girls(8.72+or-4.85, 9.50+or-4.76), and the difference was statistically significant (t=-2.04, -2.32, P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences of negative attention bias, CRIES score, intrusion, debarb and high arousal among primary and middle school students of different grades (F=3.57, 5.99, 4.45, 4.60, 7.40, P < 0.05). Negative attention bias, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms were significantly positively correlated (r=0.27-0.84, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that anxiety (OR=1.13, 95%CI=1.06-1.20) and negative attention bias (OR=1.10, 95%CI=1.07-1.12) were positively associated with PTSD symptoms in primary and middle school students(P < 0.01). Conclusion: Anxiety and depressive symptoms show impacts on negative attention bias and might exacerbate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, emotional adjustments can help reduce the post-traumatic stress response in the post-epidemic period.