The impact of negative events on adolescent sleep quality: the role of negative attention bias and negative emotions

A significant correction has been issued by the esteemed scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology concerning a previously published article that explored the intricate relationship between negative events, negative attention bias, negative emotions, and adolescent sleep quality. The erratum, released on May 14, 2026, addresses two key inaccuracies within the original publication, Front. Psychol. 17:1734257, authored by Yong, T., Wang, H., Cai, Y., Huo, J., Wei, W., Wang, Y., and Fu, C. The correction, which itself has been assigned a new DOI (10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1852382), underscores the journal’s commitment to scientific accuracy and transparency.

Editorial Adjustments and Authorial Affiliation Clarification

The primary correction pertains to the misattribution of an academic affiliation. The institution identified as the "Research Institute of Plateau Science and Sustainable Development of Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, China" was erroneously assigned to author Yue Cai in the original publication. The editorial board has now clarified that Yue Cai is, in fact, associated with affiliations numbered 4 and 6 within the study. This adjustment, while seemingly minor, is crucial for accurately reflecting the professional standing and research contributions of each author. In academic publishing, precise attribution of affiliations is paramount for establishing credibility, tracing research lineage, and facilitating scholarly communication and collaboration. The misattribution could have led to an inaccurate understanding of the research team’s institutional backing and expertise.

The second correction addresses a typographical error in the caption of Figure 2, a critical visual element that likely illustrated the study’s findings on the mediation model. The original caption incorrectly stated the significance levels as "p < 0.01, p < 0.05". The corrected caption now accurately reflects these levels as "p < 0.01, p < 0.001". This distinction is of considerable importance in statistical analysis, as different levels of statistical significance have distinct implications for the interpretation of research results. A p-value of less than 0.01 indicates a stronger rejection of the null hypothesis than a p-value of less than 0.05. Therefore, the corrected caption ensures that readers can accurately assess the statistical robustness of the findings presented in Figure 2, particularly concerning the mediating roles of negative attention bias and anxiety in the chain linking negative events to sleep quality.

Background and Context of the Original Study

The original article, published earlier in 2026, delved into a pressing issue affecting adolescent well-being: the detrimental impact of negative life events on sleep quality. Adolescence is a period characterized by significant physiological, psychological, and social changes, making individuals particularly vulnerable to stress and its consequences. Sleep disturbances during this critical developmental stage can have far-reaching implications, affecting academic performance, emotional regulation, physical health, and overall cognitive function.

The study specifically investigated the mediating roles of two key psychological mechanisms: negative attention bias and negative emotions. Negative attention bias refers to the tendency to selectively attend to threatening or negative stimuli in the environment. This cognitive bias can create a vicious cycle, where individuals are more likely to perceive negative events and amplify their emotional distress, which in turn, can disrupt sleep. Negative emotions, such as anxiety, sadness, and frustration, are common responses to adverse events and are well-established contributors to insomnia and other sleep disorders. By examining how these factors interact, the researchers aimed to provide a more nuanced understanding of how negative experiences translate into poor sleep among adolescents.

The target demographic of the original study, likely undergraduate students based on the keywords provided in the correction notice, suggests a focus on young adults navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood. This group often faces unique stressors, including academic pressures, social adjustments, and the development of independence, which can exacerbate the impact of negative events on their mental and physical health.

Chronology of the Correction Process

While the precise timeline leading to the correction is not explicitly detailed, the process typically involves a review period following publication. It is common for authors, reviewers, or even vigilant readers to identify errors in published research. Once an error is flagged, the journal’s editorial team initiates a verification process. This may involve consulting with the authors to confirm the nature and extent of the mistake.

• Original Publication: The article "The impact of negative events on adolescent sleep quality: the role of negative attention bias and negative emotions" by Yong et al. was initially published.
• Discovery of Errors: Discrepancies in author affiliation and Figure 2’s caption were identified.
• Notification to Authors: The journal editors likely communicated these findings to the authors.
• Authorial Confirmation and Agreement: The authors confirmed the errors and agreed to the proposed corrections.
• Issuance of Correction: Frontiers in Psychology published the formal correction notice on May 14, 2026, alongside the updated version of the original article.
• New DOI Assignment: A distinct DOI (10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1852382) was assigned to the corrected version, ensuring proper citation and tracking of the revised publication.

This systematic approach highlights the editorial rigor employed by reputable scientific journals to maintain the integrity of their published content. The swift issuance of the correction demonstrates a proactive stance in rectifying any inaccuracies that could potentially mislead the scientific community.

Supporting Data and Methodological Considerations (Inferred)

Although the correction notice does not provide specific data points from the original study, the nature of the research implies a methodology involving quantitative analysis. Studies investigating psychological constructs and their relationship with sleep quality typically employ a combination of self-report questionnaires, validated psychological scales, and potentially objective sleep measures like actigraphy.

The keywords associated with the original article – anxiety, negative attention bias, negative events, sleep quality, and undergraduate student – suggest that the study likely utilized instruments designed to measure these constructs. For instance, scales assessing levels of anxiety, the propensity for negative attention bias (e.g., through dot-probe tasks or eye-tracking paradigms), and the frequency and impact of negative life events would have been administered. Sleep quality would likely have been assessed using standardized questionnaires such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) or daily sleep diaries.

The statistical analysis would have aimed to establish correlations between these variables and, crucially, to test the mediating roles of negative attention bias and negative emotions. Techniques such as mediation analysis, often performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) or regression-based approaches, would have been employed to understand the indirect pathways through which negative events influence sleep quality. The corrected significance levels in Figure 2 directly attest to the statistical rigor applied in analyzing these mediating effects.

Publisher’s Statement and Disclaimers

The correction notice also includes a standard "Publisher’s note" and a "Disclaimer," which are crucial components of academic publishing. These statements serve to delineate the responsibilities of the authors, the publisher, and the editorial board.

The Publisher’s note emphasizes that "All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers." This is a fundamental principle in scientific discourse, recognizing that research findings represent the authors’ interpretations and are subject to ongoing scientific debate and refinement. It also clarifies that any claims made about products or services evaluated within the article are not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

The Disclaimer reiterates this point, stating, "All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher." This ensures that the journal serves as a platform for the dissemination of research findings without assuming endorsement of the content beyond its scientific merit and adherence to publishing standards.

Implications of the Correction and Broader Impact

While corrections are a normal part of the scientific process, they underscore the critical importance of accuracy in research reporting. The immediate implication of this correction is the enhanced reliability of the study’s findings. Researchers intending to cite or build upon this work can now do so with greater confidence, knowing that the authorial affiliations are correctly represented and that the statistical significance of key findings is accurately presented.

The clarification of Yue Cai’s affiliations is vital for understanding the specific expertise and institutional context brought to the study by each researcher. Correct attribution can influence how the research is perceived and potentially lead to further collaborations with the institutions involved.

The correction of the Figure 2 caption directly impacts the interpretation of the study’s results regarding the mediating pathways. Accurate significance levels are crucial for determining the strength and reliability of the observed relationships. Misinterpreting these levels could lead to incorrect conclusions about the relative importance of negative attention bias and negative emotions in explaining the link between negative events and poor sleep. For example, if a mediating effect was initially believed to be highly significant (e.g., p < 0.01) but was actually less so (e.g., p < 0.05), it might prompt researchers to adjust their theoretical emphasis or design follow-up studies with larger sample sizes to confirm the effect.

From a broader perspective, this incident highlights the ongoing need for meticulous review processes in academic publishing. As research becomes increasingly complex and interdisciplinary, the potential for errors, whether intentional or unintentional, grows. Journals like Frontiers in Psychology, with their rigorous peer-review systems and commitment to transparency, play a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of scientific knowledge.

The study’s focus on adolescent sleep quality and the psychological mechanisms underlying its disruption remains highly relevant. Understanding these relationships is crucial for developing effective interventions to support the mental and physical well-being of young people. Accurate reporting of research findings, as facilitated by this correction, is the bedrock upon which such interventions are built. The corrected article, now more precisely reflecting the authors’ contributions and findings, can continue to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers working to address the challenges of adolescent health.