Schematic representation of one run consisting of six blocks of pictures.

<p>(Bl: baseline; POS: positive pictures (6 pictures presented for 7s each per block); NEU: neutral pictures; NEG: negative pictures; subj: subjective ratings).</p

Scores on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-total) with its three subscales (TAS-F1, TAS-F2, TAS-F3; left panel) and scores on the Tellegen Absorption Scale (right panel) for group 1 (low NA-low HSR), group 2 (high NA-low HSR), and group 3 (high NA-high HSR).

<p>Whiskers denote standard errors of means.</p

Bonferroni-tests and <i>p</i> values for alexithymia (and three subscales) and absorption for the three groups.

<p>Bonferroni-tests and <i>p</i> values for alexithymia (and three subscales) and absorption for the three groups.</p

Percentage of correct No-Go responses during the second and third subtask of the Parametric Go/No-go Task before (left panel A) and after (left panel B) control for trait NA.

<p>Reaction time to the different cards of the Stroop Task before (middle panel A) and after (middle panel B) control for trait NA. Number of errors on the different cards of the Stroop Task before (right panel A) and after (right panel B) control for trait NA. Whiskers denote standard errors of means.</p

Changes in state NA (left panel) and symptom score (right panel) over the different picture series [negative (NEG); neutral (NEU); positive (POS)] for low NA-low HSR persons, high NA-low HSR persons, and high NA-high HSR persons.

<p>Whiskers denote standard errors of means. The minimum score on these questionnaires is 10.</p

Multilevel mediation/moderation analysis.

<p>Multilevel mediation/moderation analysis.</p

Unraveling the Relationship between Trait Negative Affectivity and Habitual Symptom Reporting

OBJECTIVE:In two studies, we aimed at further elucidating the relationship between trait negative affectivity (NA) and habitual symptom reporting (HSR) by relating these variables to measures of executive function, trait questionnaires, and effects of emotion induction. METHODS:Healthy female participants (N = 75) were selected on their scores for trait NA and for the Checklist for Symptoms in Daily Life. Three groups were compared: (1) low NA-low HSR; (2) high NA-low HSR; and (3) high NA-high HSR (low NA-high HSR did not occur). In study 1, participants underwent a Parametric Go/No-go Task and a Stroop Color-Word test, and trait questionnaires measured alexithymia and absorption. Forty-five participants (N = 15 in each group) were further engaged in study 2 to induce state NA using an affective picture paradigm. RESULTS:Impaired inhibition on the Stroop and Go/No go Task characterized high trait NA, but not high HSR, whereas alexithymia and absorption were elevated in HSR, regardless of trait NA. Negative picture viewing induced elevated state NA in all groups, but only high HSR also reported more bodily symptoms. This effect was moderated, but not mediated by state NA. CONCLUSION:High trait NA is a vulnerability factor but not a sufficient condition to develop HSR. Deficient inhibition is related to the broad trait of NA, whereas the moderating effect of state NA on symptom reporting is specific for high HSR. Understanding processes related to alexithymia and absorption may specifically help to explain elevated HSR