Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Anxiety Traits and Fear Learning: An Extension of Aggregated Meta-Analytic Findings
Description
Individual differences, particularly anxiety-related traits, are central to understanding variability in fear conditioning responses. Numerous studies—including meta-analyses—have examined these associations, but inconsistencies in trait selection and outcome measures complicate synthesis and generalizability of findings. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive meta-analysis considering diverse anxiety-related traits (e.g. STAI, IUS, NEO) and outcome measures (e.g. SCR, FPS, ratings) to identify shared and distinct patterns, as well as potential moderators.
Building on Bruntsch et al. (2024), who conducted an aggregated data meta-analysis (AD-MA) on this topic, the present study extends this work using an individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA). The IPD-MA will leverage the fearbase dataset, to mitigate publication bias and potentially yield more accurate effect estimates. Additionally, IPD-MA facilitates more accurate moderator analyses by using individual participant data rather than aggregated values, thus enhancing statistical power and specificity. Where possible, we will directly compare results from AD-MA and IPD-MA to assess the impact of publication bias and methodological differences.
Further, we are aiming to clarify the relationship between anxiety-related traits and fear conditioning measures, including analyses at the questionnaire item level. By utilizing item-level data from various anxiety questionnaires, we aim to identify specific predictors and latent factors underlying the association between anxiety-related traits and fear conditioning outcomes.
Researchers
Maria Bruntsch*, Bielefeld University
Tina Lonsdorf, Bielefeld University
Mana Ehlers, Bielefeld University
Fritz Becker, Bielefeld University
Annalena Witte, Bielefeld University
Conrad Alting, Bielefeld University
Datasets
ID 98
Pittig
2021
160
habituation, acquisition, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy, US Intensity
75%
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 156
Chalkia
2019
15
acquisition, intervention, intervention, extinction, reinstatement test
startle emg, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ)
ID 163
Chalkia
2020
62
acquisition, other, extinction, re-extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Intensity
37.5%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Fear of Pain Questionnaire - Short Form (FPQ-SF)
ID 168
Chalkia
2019
20
habituation, acquisition, habituation, other, habituation, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, startle emg, US Expectancy, US Intensity, CS Valence, CS Arousal
75%
Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 172
Chalkia
2020
62
acquisition, intervention, extinction, re-extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Intensity
37.5%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Fear of Pain Questionnaire - Short Form (FPQ-SF)
ID 176
Hu
2019
22
acquisition, other, intervention, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy
43%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90)
ID 177
Hu
2019
21
acquisition, other, intervention, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy
43%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90)
ID 178
Hu
2019
18
acquisition, intervention, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy
43%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90)
ID 179
Homan
2017
40
intervention, acquisition, extinction, re-extinction
skin conductance response
43%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 180
Chalkia
2019
15
acquisition, other, intervention, intervention, extinction, reinstatement test
startle emg, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ)
ID 181
Chalkia
2019
15
acquisition, other, intervention, intervention, extinction, reinstatement test
startle emg, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ)
ID 183
Golkar
2015
55
acquisition
skin conductance response
100%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 188
Klingelhöfer-Jens
2022
64
habituation, acquisition, extinction, re-extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, startle emg, fear
100%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS)
ID 196
Chalkia
2019
15
acquisition, other, intervention, intervention, extinction, reinstatement test
startle emg, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ)
ID 203
Chalkia
2019
20
habituation, acquisition, habituation, other, intervention, habituation, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, startle emg, US Expectancy, US Intensity, CS Valence, CS Arousal
75%
Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 210
Gerlicher
2022
50
acquisition, extinction, intervention, re-extinction
skin conductance response, US Expectancy, US Intensity
50%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)
ID 212
Mertens
2019
31
acquisition, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%, 100%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 214
Mertens
2019
29
acquisition, extinction, re-extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%, 100%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 215
Mertens
2019
31
acquisition, extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%, 100%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 216
Mertens
2019
28
acquisition, extinction, re-extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response, US Expectancy, US Intensity
100%, 100%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 217
Morriss
2020
76
acquisition, extinction, re-extinction
skin conductance response, pupil size, US Expectancy
50%
Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Stait-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA)
ID 218
de Haan
2018
26
habituation, acquisition
pupil size, US Expectancy
46%, 46%
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
ID 220
De Voogd
2020
102
acquisition, extinction, re-extinction, reinstatement test
skin conductance response
37.5%
Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS)
ID 222
Morriss
2020
68
acquisition, extinction, re-extinction
skin conductance response, pupil size, US Expectancy
50%
Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Stait-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA)
ID 225
Mertens
2020
107
habituation, acquisition, reversal
skin conductance response, startle emg, US Intensity, contingency awareness
%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS)
ID 226
Gerlicher
2019
80
habituation, acquisition, extinction, intervention, re-extinction
skin conductance response, US Intensity
80%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)
ID 227
Gerlicher
2019
32
habituation, acquisition, extinction, intervention, re-extinction
skin conductance response, US Intensity
80%
State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)