Trait anxiety reduces affective fading for both positive and negative autobiographical memories

The affect associated with negative events fades faster than the affectassociated with positive events (the Fading Affect Bias; the FAB). The researchthat we report examined the relation between trait anxiety and the FAB. Study 1assessed anxiety using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale; Studies 2 and3 used the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Studies 1 and 2 used retrospective proceduresto probe positive event memories and negative event memories while Study 3 useda diary procedure. The results of all 3 studies showed that increased anxietywas associated with both a lowered FAB and lower overall affect fading for bothpositive events and negative events. These results suggest that for people freeof trait anxiety, the FAB reflects the operation of a healthy coping mechanismin autobiographical memory that is disrupted by trait anxiety.