The prediction of negative events associated with anxiety and dietary restraint: A test of the content specificity hypothesis

The prediction of future negative events was studied in a sample of undergr aduate students varying on measures of anxiety and dietary restraint Cognit ive theories of psychopathology hypothesize that the emotional concerns of an individual determine which types of information are most often cognitive ly processed with a biased interpretation. This prediction has generally be en called the content specificity hypothesis. Based upon this aspect of cog nitive theory, we hypothesized that a high level of trait anxiety would be associated with higher ratings of the probability of future physically thre atening events. In addition, it was hypothesized that a high level of dieta ry restraint would be associated with lower ratings of the probability of f uture occurrences of overeating. The results of the study supported these h ypotheses. These prediction biases were found to be more pronounced in wome n, as compared to men. The findings were interpreted as supportive of the c ontent specificity hypothesis.