Constructive Effects of Engaging in Post-Event Processing in High and Low Socially Anxious Individuals

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve R. Makkar ◽  
Jessica R. Grisham
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Performance Appraisals ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Negative Cognitions ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Response Condition ◽  
Speech Task ◽  
Processing Modes ◽  
Observable Behaviour

Post-event processing (PEP), the act of engaging in a detailed, self-focused, and negative analysis of a prior social situation, has been hypothesised to contribute to the maintenance of social phobia (Clark & Wells, 1995). In light of this proposal, the present study investigated whether deliberate engagement in PEP as opposed to distraction following a speech task elicits unhelpful effects on emotion, cognition, and behaviour in a subsequent speech task in high and low socially anxious participants. The PEP manipulation instructed participants to focus on the anxious thoughts, images, feelings, and somatic sensations relating to the first speech. Contrary to hypotheses, results demonstrated that engaging in PEP as opposed to distraction led to a number of constructive outcomes such as: increased willingness among low socially anxious participants to give the second speech, a reduction in negative performance appraisals and underestimation of performance among high socially anxious participants, and better self-perceived speech quality irrespective of social anxiety level. However, there were no effects of response condition on anxiety, performance appraisals, observable behaviour, and negative cognitions. The findings underscore the need for additional research identifying the precise contents, construals, and processing modes that distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive forms of PEP.

Perpetuating factors of social anxiety: a serial mediation model

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 304-314
Author(s):  
Nicolette D. Carnahan ◽  
Michele M. Carter ◽  
Nathaniel R. Herr
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Direct Link ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Anticipatory Anxiety ◽  
Serial Mediation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Safety Behaviour

AbstractBackground:There is evidence that individuals with high levels of social anxiety utilize more safety behaviours and experience more post-event processing than those with lower levels of social anxiety. There are also data to suggest that the relationship between safety behaviour use and social anxiety symptoms is mediated by perceived control of one’s anxiety. Furthermore, it has been suggested that post-event processing influences anticipatory anxiety for a future social situation.Aim:A direct link between the perpetuating factors of social anxiety described above has not been established in the literature. The aim of the current study was to test a model examining the relationship between these constructs.Method:Participants first completed a battery of questionnaires. They then participated in an impromptu, 3-minute speech and were informed they would be videotaped. Following the speech, participants completed measures of anxiety and were instructed to return the following week. During the second session, they were informed they would deliver an additional speech and provided ratings of their anxiety in anticipation of delivering the second speech.Results:The results of a serial mediation support that greater levels of social anxiety lead to less perceived control over one’s anxiety, leading to increased safety behaviour use. The increase in safety behaviours led to an increase of post-event processing which resulted in greater anticipatory anxiety for a future speech task.Conclusions:This study provides novel evidence for the importance of perceived control in the genesis of social anxiety, which has implications for treatment.

Can Clark and Wells' (1995) Cognitive Model of Social Phobia be Applied to Young People?

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate J. Hodson ◽  
Freda V. McManus ◽  
David M. Clark ◽  
Helen Doll
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Phobia ◽  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Social Cognitions ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Anxiety Depression

AbstractSocial phobia is a common and disabling condition for both children and adults. In recent years Clark and Wells' (1995) cognitive model of social phobia has given rise to an effective treatment protocol for the condition in adults (e.g. Clark et al., 2003, 2006). The current study investigates the applicability of this model to younger people. One hundred and seventy-one 11–14 year-old participants completed questionnaires measuring social anxiety, depression, and the variables hypothesized to maintain social phobia in Clark and Wells' (1995) cognitive model: negative social cognitions, safety behaviours, self-focused attention, and pre- and post-event processing. High socially anxious children scored significantly higher than low socially anxious children on all of the variables in Clark and Wells' model. Negative social cognitions, self-focused attention, safety behaviours, and pre- and post-event processing were all significant predictors of social anxiety, accounting for 48% of the variance in social anxiety. Furthermore, these variables showed specificity to social anxiety, predicting significantly more variance in social anxiety than in depression. Findings suggest that although Clark and Wells' (1995) model of social phobia was developed from research on adult populations, it may be equally applicable to younger people with social phobia.

Can I Really Do This? An Examination of Anticipatory Event Processing in Social Anxiety Disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith M. Laposa ◽  
Neil A. Rector
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Anxiety State ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Anticipatory Processing

Clark and Wells (1995) posit that anticipatory processing before a social situation serves to maintain social anxiety. More specifically, ruminative processes similar to post-event processing (PEP) may occur in anticipation of anxiety provoking social events, and in this article, we have labelled this type of anticipatory rumination anticipatory event processing (AnEP). Participants (n = 75) with social anxiety disorder (SAD) completed measures of anticipatory event processing, trait anxious rumination, social anxiety, state anxiety, and PEP, in the context of completing videotaped exposures twice as part of manual-based group cognitive behavioral therapy. AnEP was significantly positively associated with trait anxious rumination and social anxiety and was associated with state anxiety during the first videotaping. AnEP at the two time points was significantly correlated and decreased across the two taped exposures. Greater AnEP at the first taping was associated with greater PEP the following week. PEP after the first videotaped exposure then significantly related to AnEP for the second videotaped exposure several weeks later. Discussion focuses on the similarities between PEP and AnEP as well as implications for cognitive models and treatment of SAD.

Examining the Relationships Among Self-Compassion, Social Anxiety, and Post-Event Processing

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Blackie ◽  
Nancy L. Kocovski
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Situation Type ◽  
Seeking Help

Post-event processing refers to negative and repetitive thinking following anxiety provoking social situations. Those who engage in post-event processing may lack self-compassion in relation to social situations. As such, the primary aim of this research was to evaluate whether those high in self-compassion are less likely to engage in post-event processing and the specific self-compassion domains that may be most protective. In study 1 ( N = 156 undergraduate students) and study 2 ( N = 150 individuals seeking help for social anxiety and shyness), participants completed a battery of questionnaires, recalled a social situation, and then rated state post-event processing. Self-compassion negatively correlated with post-event processing, with some differences depending on situation type. Even after controlling for self-esteem, self-compassion remained significantly correlated with state post-event processing. Given these findings, self-compassion may serve as a buffer against post-event processing. Future studies should experimentally examine whether increasing self-compassion leads to reduced post-event processing.

scholarly journals Imagery rescripting versus cognitive restructuring for social anxiety: Treatment effects and working mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Strohm ◽  
Marena Siegesleitner ◽  
Anna E. Kunze ◽  
Thomas Ehring ◽  
Charlotte E. Wittekind
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Cognitive Restructuring ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Speech Task ◽  
Anxiety Treatment ◽  
Imagery Rescripting ◽  
Working Mechanisms

Background Negative mental images in social anxiety are often linked to memories of distressing social experiences. Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) has been found to be a promising intervention to target aversive memories, but mechanisms underlying ImRs are largely unknown. The present study aimed (a) to investigate the effects of ImRs compared to cognitive restructuring (CR) on social anxiety symptoms and (b) to extend previous research by examining whether ImRs works by fostering reappraisal of negative emotional self-beliefs. Method Highly socially anxious individuals (N = 77) were randomly allocated to ImRs, CR, or no intervention control (NIC). A speech task was performed at baseline and at 1-week follow-up. Results Only CR significantly reduced social anxiety symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Decreases in negative appraisals and emotional distress in response to the speech task did not differ between conditions. Regarding working mechanisms, ImRs led to stronger increases in positive emotions than CR and NIC. Both CR and ImRs yielded short-term reductions in emotionally anchored idiosyncratic self-beliefs, but CR was superior to ImRs at follow-up. Conclusions The present study provides evidence for the efficacy of a single-session of CR for social anxiety symptoms. As one specific version of ImRs was applied, it is conceivable that other or optimized versions of ImRs might be more effective.

Examining Facets of Depression and Social Anxiety: The Relation among Lack of Positive Affect, Negative Cognitions, and Emotion Dysregulation

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Blanco ◽  
Jutta Joormann
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Negative Cognitions ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Anxiety Group ◽  
The Social

AbstractDepression and Social Anxiety Disorder are commonly conceptualized by the presence of negative affect. However, these disorders are also characterized by lack of positive affect, presence of negative cognitions, and emotion dysregulation which may play an important role in the onset and maintenance of these disorders. The present study explored differences among these variables in 189 clinical patients diagnosed with Major Depression, Social Anxiety Disorder, or both. Results showed differences in lack of positivity F(2, 185) = 18.92, p = .0001, η2 = .17, presence of negative cognitions F(2, 185) = 13.97, p = .0001, η2 = .13, and the use of rumination F(2, 185) = 14.63, p = .0001, η2 = .14 and punishment F(2, 181) = 7.64, p = .001, η2 = .08 among groups. Overall, lack of positivity, negative cognitions, and emotion dysregulation were elevated in the comorbid group, whereas lack of positivity and negative cognitions were specifically found for patients diagnosed with depression compared to socially anxious patients. In addition, the study examined the relation of both, lack of positivity and negative cognitions, to emotion regulation processes among groups. Overall, lack of positivity was associated with fear and avoidance in the social anxiety group (all r > .417, p < .01), whereas lack of positivity and negative cognitions were associated with rumination across the three groups (all r > .370, p < .01). Limitations of the present study and future directions are discussed.

Relationships Between Cortically Mediated Attentional Dysfunction and Social Anxiety, Self-Focused Attention, and External Attention Bias

2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1101-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nozomi Tomita ◽  
Shoji Imai ◽  
Yusuke Kanayama ◽  
Hiroaki Kumano
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Attention Bias ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Speech Task ◽  
Attentional Dysfunction

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by a marked fear and avoidance of social situations or a fear of being evaluated by others. Although training for top-down attentional control has been an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder, few studies have demonstrated that individuals with social anxiety have top-down attentional dysfunction. This study used dichotic listening (DL) tasks to investigate the relationship between social anxiety and top-down attentional control over relevant brain activities. We also investigated relationships between both social situation-dependent self-focused attention and external attention bias and situation-independent attentional control. Thirty-six healthy participants underwent near-infrared spectroscopy scanning while performing top-down selective and divided attention DL tasks. Then, they undertook a speech task and completed a questionnaire to assess the degrees of their self-focused attention and external attention bias. The results showed that the degree of social fear and self-focused attention during the speech task were negatively correlated with scores on the selective attention task and with the activity of the left pars opercularis during the selective DL task, which were related to each other. These results suggest that a relationship exists between social fear, self-focused attention in a social situation, and top-down selective attentional dysfunction as assessed both behaviorally and by brain activity changes.

Is Post-Event Processing a Social Anxiety Specific or Transdiagnostic Cognitive Process in the Anxiety Spectrum?

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 706-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith M. Laposa ◽  
Kelsey C. Collimore ◽  
Neil A. Rector
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Specific Symptom ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Research on post-event processing (PEP), where individuals conduct a post-mortem evaluation of a social situation, has focused primarily on its relationship with social anxiety. Aims: The current study examined: 1) levels of PEP for a standardized event in different anxiety disorders; 2) the relationship between peak anxiety levels during this event and subsequent PEP; and 3) the relationship between PEP and disorder-specific symptom severity. Method: Participants with primary DSM-IV diagnoses of social anxiety disorder (SAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder with/without agoraphobia (PD/A), or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) completed diagnosis specific symptom measures before attending group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) specific to their diagnosis. Participants rated their peak anxiety level during the first group therapy session, and one week later rated PEP in the context of CBT. Results: The results indicated that all anxiety disorder groups showed heightened and equivalent PEP ratings. Peak state anxiety during the first CBT session predicted subsequent level of PEP, irrespective of diagnostic group. PEP ratings were found to be associated with disorder-specific symptom severity in SAD, GAD, and PD/A, but not in OCD. Conclusions: PEP may be a transdiagnostic process with relevance to a broad range of anxiety disorders, not just SAD.

Post-event processing in social anxiety: Investigation using Attentional Control Theory

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-267
Author(s):  
Rachel A. Sluis ◽  
◽  
Mark J. Boschen ◽  
David L. Neumann ◽  
Karen Murphy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Event Processing ◽  
Attentional Control Theory

scholarly journals Are you Watching Me? Interacting Effects of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Social Context on Cognitive Performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin L. Maresh ◽  
Bethany A. Teachman ◽  
James A. Coan
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Fear Of Negative Evaluation ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Improved Accuracy

Socially anxious individuals exhibit cognitive performance impairments; it is unclear whether this is due to trait differences in abilities or effects of the experimental context. This study sought to determine how social context, individual differences in fear of negative evaluation (FNE), and task difficulty interact to influence working memory performance as indicated by effectiveness (accuracy) and efficiency (reaction times). Participants (N = 61) performed the n-back task at 2-back and 3-back difficulty levels under three conditions: alone (“Anonymous”), in presence of a non-evaluative experimenter (“Presence”), and under explicit performance evaluation by the experimenter (“Threat”). Overall, participants showed improved accuracy during Threat, but only on 2-back trials. FNE was positively associated with longer reaction times during Threat on 3-back trials. FNE did not relate to accuracy, suggesting that threat-related impairments tied to social anxiety may alter efficiency rather than effectiveness. Thus, social anxiety may elicit cognitive performance impairments even in minimally evaluative environments.

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