Individuals high in social anxiety report higher interpersonal dependency (e.g., Darcy et al., 2005), lower satisfaction with their sexual communication with their intimate partners (Montesi et al., 2009), less self-disclosure (e.g., Sparrevohn & Rapee, 2009), and less emotional expression (e.g., Spokas et al., 2009) than non-anxious individuals. In comparison to non-anxious individuals, socially anxious individuals also report lower satisfaction with various aspects of their intimate relationships including lower sexual satisfaction (Bodinger et al., 2002), less social and emotional intimacy (Schneier et al., 1994), and lower overall relationship quality (Sparrevohn & Rapee, 2009). The primary aim of the present investigation was to better understand the lack of satisfaction and fulfillment reported by socially anxious individuals in intimate relationships. Data were collected from 135 undergraduate students in committed, heterosexual, monogamous, sexually active partnerships of at least three months duration. Structural equation modeling was used to examine variations of a partially latent structural regression model in which higher social anxiety and higher interpersonal dependency were predictive of higher sexual communication reluctance and, in turn, lower overall relationship satisfaction and higher sexual dissatisfaction. Based on an examination of overall model fit statistics, chi square difference statistics, parameter coefficients, and correlation residuals, two models (one including fear of damaging the relationship and one without this variable) were retained. Both of the retained models, which included direct paths from social anxiety to satisfaction in addition to indirect paths from social anxiety and interpersonal dependency to the outcome satisfaction variables, had excellent fit (Model 1D:X²M=3.48,df=8,p=.90,RMSEA=0.00,CFI=1.00; Model 2D: X²M =15.07,df=14,p=.3, RMSEA=0.02,CFI=0.99). Exploratory hypotheses were examined. Results are discussed in terms of the benefits of open communication between intimate partners about specific areas of the sexual relationship (e.g., sexual fantasies). Future directions of study are proposed. / Psychology

No description available.

Research has shown that international students studying in the United States report significantly lower levels of social adjustment than American students. Cultural differences may contribute to this problem; however, social relationships between international students and American students lead to greater adjustment for the former group. In spite of this finding, many international students fail to develop significant interpersonal relationships with American students. In this study, self-construal, social anxiety, and social skills were investigated as possible mediating variables for international student social adjustment. During the first phase of the study, data were collected from 59 Chinese and 105 American graduate students at a large state university in the southeastern United States. Results indicated that Chinese students experience lower social adjustment, higher levels of social anxiety, and report higher interdependent self-construal than American students. Independent self-construal was inversely related to social anxiety for both groups. In addition, an inverse relationship between social anxiety and social adjustment was found for the American students only. For the second phase of the study, a subset of Chinese (N = 28) and American (N = 32) students from the first phase participated in four separate dyadic interactions with both Chinese and American confederates. The students were asked to rate their level of anxiety both before and after the interaction, and their behavior during the interaction was videotaped and later rated by independent observers. Analyses of these data revealed that American students experienced higher anxiety than Chinese students both before and after the interactions. Social adjustment appears to play a role in this difference since Chinese subjects with low social adjustment reported lower post-interaction anxiety than those with high social adjustment. Self-construal is also discussed as a possible explanation for this finding. In addition, American students were rated as having better overall social skills (as defined by American norms) than Chinese students. Both groups of students reported lower anxiety after interacting with an American confederate, perhaps due to language difficulties during interactions with Chinese confederates. Finally, some interesting results were revealed when the effects of sex were explored in the analyses. Implications for student orientation programs and directions for future research are discussed. / Ph. D.

The present study examined the role of emotion regulation (ER) in individuals who endorsed social anxiety symptoms found in taijin kyofusho (TKS) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) in a young adult sample. More specifically, the study sought to examine the role of self-conscious emotions of shame and embarrassment with respect to TKS and SAD. Participants were administered a series of questionnaires during the first phase of the study and, during the second phase, a diagnostic clinical interview and additional questionnaires were administered along with an experimental social evaluative task and recording of electrical cardiac impulses. Descriptively, social anxiety symptoms were expected to be associated with less adaptive ER strategies. Additionally, differences between individuals who endorsed TKS and SAD symptoms were expected such that TKS would be associated more so with shame and SAD with embarrassment. It was hypothesized that ER would mediate the relationship between embarrassment and shame and their hypothesized anxiety counterparts (SAD or TKS). Findings revealed an association between shame and TKS, and embarrassment and SAD. However, less adaptive ER strategies were not related to social anxiety symptoms and ER did not mediate the relationship between self-conscious emotions and social anxiety. The present findings suggest that shame and embarrassment can play a role in the clinical manifestations of SAD and TKS. Implications regarding the role of these emotions and ER were examined. / Ph. D.

The default mode network (DMN) is active in the absence of task demands and during self-referential thought. Considerable evidence suggests that the DMN is involved in normative aspects of social cognition, and as such, disruptions in the function of DMN would be expected in disorders characterized by alterations in social function. Consistent with this notion, work in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) has demonstrated altered activation of several core regions of the DMN relative to neurotypical controls. Despite emergent evidence for alterations within the same brain systems in SAD and ASD, as well as a behavioral continuum of social impairments, no study to date has examined what is unique and what is common to the brain systems within these disorders. Therefore, the primary aim of the current study is to precisely characterize the topology of neural connectivity within the DMN in SAD and ASD and neurotypical controls in order to test the following hypotheses through functional and structural connectivity analyses of the DMN. Our analyses demonstrate increased coavtivation of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex in ASD and SAD compared to controls, as well as over and under connectivity in structural brain connectivity in ASD. These results may reflect general deficits in social function at rest, and disorder specific alterations in structural connectivity in ASD. / Master of Science

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Both human and animal studies indicate that early trauma can influence brain development and can lead to dysregulation and dysfunction. This includes cognitive deficits. The risk of childhood trauma (CHT) and resulting cognitive deficits are well established in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is not the case for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The experience of CHT does not inevitably lead to later psychopathology, suggesting that resiliency factors may be at play. Indeed, research shows that resilience is protective against the development of PTSD although this has not been well studied in SAD, particularly in the context of childhood trauma and neurocognition. Methods: This exploratory study assessed for the possible contribution of CHT on cognitive functioning in adults with SAD. We assessed 44 individuals who formed part of a larger study on neurocognitive and neuroimaging correlates in a sample drawn from the Western Cape, South Africa. Using a neuropsychological test battery, memory, attention and executive functioning (EF) (underpinned by hippocampal, cingulate cortex and pre frontal-cortex function respectively) were assessed. CHT was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). We compared neurocognitive and resilience (CD-RISC) variables across four groups (SAD with trauma, SAD without trauma, PTSD and healthy controls) using analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics. Results: None of the groups differed significantly on cognitive variables, however, on average all outcomes were in the predicted direction. Separate analyses for the traumatised groups only showed a significant effect for EF and attention, suggesting an association between EF, attention and CHT. On a measure of resilience, healthy controls had significantly higher resilience scores than the other 3 groups. Unexpectedly, SAD and PTSD groups with CHT had higher resilience scores than the SAD group without CHT, suggesting that resilience moderates CHT. Lastly individuals with SAD and PTSD with CHT reported more emotional abuse and neglect than any other type of childhood trauma. Conclusion: This exploratory study is unique in its comparative assessment of the effects of CHT and resilience on discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Beide mens- en dierestudies dui daarop dat vroeë trauma brein ontwikkeling kan beïnvloed en kan lei tot disfunksie. Dit sluit kognitiewe tekortkominge in. Die risiko van vroeë kinderjare trauma (KJT) en die gevolglike kognitiewe tekortkominge is goed gevestig in Posttraumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV). Dit is egter nie die geval in Sosiale angsversteuring (SAV) nie. Die ervaring van KJT lei nie noodwendig tot latere psigopatologie nie, wat daarop dui dat veerkragtigheidsfaktore 'n rol kan speel. Trouens, navorsing toon dat veerkragtigheid beskermend is teen die ontwikkeling van PTSV, maar dit is egter nie behoorlik nagevors in SAV nie - veral nie in die konteks van vroeë kinderjare en neurokognisie nie. Metodologie: Hierdie verkennende studie het die invloed van KJT op kognitiewe funksionering in 44 individue geëvalueer. Hierdie studie het deel gevorm van 'n groter studie oor neurokognitiewe- en neurobeeldingskorrelate in 'n steekproef wat gewerf is uit die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. ‘n Neurosielkundige toetsbattery was gebruik om geheue, aandag en uitvoerende funksionering (UF) (wat onderskeidelik deur die hippokampus, cingulate korteks en prefrontale korteks ondersteun word) te assesseer. KJT is beoordeel met die "Childhood Trauma Questionnaire" (CTQ). 'n Analise van variansie (ANOVA) was gebruik om die neurokognitiewe en veerkragtigheid (CD-RISC) veranderlikes oor vier groepe (SAV met trauma, SAV sonder trauma, PTSV en gesonde kontrole) te vergelyk. Resultate: Nie een van die groepe het beduidend verskil van mekaar op grond van kognitiewe veranderlikes nie, maar oor die algemeen was alle uitkomste in die voorspelde rigting. Afsonderlike analises op die getraumatiseerde groepe het 'n beduidende effek gehad vir UF en aandag, wat dui op 'n assosiasie tussen UF, aandag en KJT. Die gesonde kontrole het beduidende hoër veerkragtigheid tellings as die ander 3 groepe gehad. SAV en PTSV groepe met KJT het teen verwagtinge hoër veerkragtigheidstellings gehad as die SAV sonder KJT, wat daarop dui dat veerkragtigheid KJT modereer. Laastens, individue met SAV en PTSV met KJT het meer emosionele mishandeling en verwaarlosing gerapporteer as enige ander tipe kinderjare trauma. Bespreking: Hierdie verkennende studie is uniek in sy vergelykende evaluering van die invloed van KJT en veerkragtigheid op die neurokognisie in deelnemers met SAV en PTSV. Beperkings en aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing word bespreek.

本研究主要目的在於運用指示遺忘作業探討高社交焦慮者是否有記憶偏誤現象。高社交焦慮組24人與低社交焦慮組20人參與正式實驗，受試者被要求依據指示記住或忘記三種類型刺激詞（社交威脅、中性、社交正向）。作業結果未發現任何顯著之組間差異，但進一步分析發現，在指示記住項目的回憶上，所有受試者皆回憶出較多的社交正向詞（相對於中性詞以及社交威脅詞），顯示記憶的正向偏誤，然而，在指示忘記項目的回憶上，正向偏誤的現象僅出現在低社交焦慮組，不見於高社交焦慮組。此外，相關分析顯示，高社交焦慮組的FNE量表（Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale）得分與指示記住的社交正向詞回憶量成正相關，與指示忘記的社交威脅詞回憶量成負相關；低社交焦慮組的FNE量表得分與指示記住的社交正向詞回憶量成負相關。這些結果顯示高社交焦慮者可能缺乏正向偏誤的保護機制，較一般人更容易遺忘正向評價訊息，因而更容易受到負面評價的影響，於是他們傾向抑制負向評價訊息的回憶，將注意力投注在非威脅訊息，並努力記住正向評價，換言之，他們透過逃避負面評價的方式來維持良好的自我形象。 / The purpose of the present study was to utilize the directed forgetting task to investigate the memory bias in socially anxious individuals. Performance on a directed forgetting task was assessed in socially anxious (n=24) and nonanxious (n=20) individuals. Participants were presented with three types of words (negative social, neutral, positive social) and were cued to either remember or forget each word as it was presented. There were no between-groups differences on a free recall task for words in both remember and forget conditions. Follow-up analyses demonstrated that all subjects recalled more positive social words than either neutral words or negative social words in the remember condition, revealing the positive memory bias. However, only nonanxious individuals showed such positive memory bias in the forget condition, while high-social-anxiety individuals did not. Moreover, in the social anxiety group, the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE) scores were positively related to the recall of positive social “to-be-remembered” words, and negatively related to the recall of negative social “to-be-forgotten” words. In the control group, FNE scores were negatively related to the recall of positive social “to-be-remembered” words. These results suggest that the protective positive bias was absent in socially anxious individuals. Thus, they were more likely than nonanxious individuals to forget positive evaluative information; therefore, they were vulnerable to negative evaluation. Furthermore, people with excessive social anxiety might try hard to inhibit the recall of negative evaluation and to remember positive evaluation. In other words, they made an effort to maintain a good impression by avoiding negative evaluative information.

No description available.

La présente thèse regroupe deux articles qui examinent le rôle de l’anxiété sociale sur les comportements délinquants à l’adolescence. Pour le premier article, l’apport de l’anxiété sociale sur l’émergence de comportements de délinquance générale et relationnelle parmi 191 adolescents a été évalué. Les adolescents provenaient d’écoles secondaires de la province de Québec qui participaient à l’évaluation d’une stratégie d’intervention Agir Autrement (SIAA), une stratégie de prévention du décrochage scolaire en milieu défavorisé. L’échantillon obtenu a permis d’identifier deux groupes d’adolescents présentant des caractéristiques de délinquance générale ou relationnelle pour tester le rôle prédictif de l’anxiété sociale, de l’estime de soi, de l’isolement social et de la dépression sur leur profil de délinquance. Les résultats d’une analyse linéaire discriminante ont révélé qu’au-delà des facteurs individuels et sociaux testés, l’anxiété sociale prédit les trajectoires de délinquance deux ans plus tard. Pour le deuxième article, des analyses de trajectoires à partir d’analyses par équations structurelles ont été effectuées pour expliquer les associations prospectives entre l’anxiété sociale, la dépression et l’isolement social au début de l’adolescence sur les comportements de délinquance générale et relationnelle. Les résultats ont montré que l’anxiété sociale et l’isolement social sont des prédicteurs importants dans le développement de la délinquance relationnelle, toutefois la dépression ne s’est pas avérée prédictive. Ces études contribuent à la recherche dans le domaine de l’anxiété en expliquant l’importance de poursuivre les travaux pour mieux cerner le rôle de l’anxiété sociale et de l’isolement social chez les adolescents qui commettent des actes de délinquance relationnelle. / This thesis unites two articles that examine the role of social anxiety on delinquent behaviours during adolescence. For the first article, we evaluated the role of social anxiety on the emergence of general and relational delinquency behaviours among 191 adolescents. Participants came from secondary schools in Quebec who participated in the evaluation of the New Approaches New Solutions (NANS), a strategy to prevent students in disadvantaged communities from dropping out of school. The sample obtained allowed us to identify two groups of adolescents that showed characteristics of general or relational delinquency in order to test the predictive role of social anxiety, self-esteem, loneliness and depression on their delinquency profile. The results of a linear discriminant analysis showed that, beyond the individual and social factors tested, social anxiety predicts the trajectories of delinquency two years later. For the second article, we carried out path analyses using structural equations modeling to explain the potential links between social anxiety, depression and loneliness at the beginning of adolescence on general and relational delinquency behaviours. The results showed that social anxiety and loneliness are important predictors in the development of relational delinquency. However, depression was not proven to be predictive. These two studies contribute to research in the field of anxiety by explaining the importance of pursuing work to better identify the role of social anxiety and loneliness among adolescents who engage in acts of relational delinquency.

Vitiligo is an idiopathic, non-contagious and often familial depigmentation disorder affecting both sexes equally. The mostly progressive and patchy loss of the inherited skin colour is not only a cosmetical problem, it has a profound impact on the patient's well-being. Stigmatisation and rejection often causes depression, self-consciousness, sexual problems and an impaired quality of life. To further substantiate earlier investigations and to introduce new aspects, we utilised the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Adjustment to Chronic Skin Disorders Questionnaire (ACS) with its sub-scales on Social anxiety/avoidance, Helplessness and Anxious-depressive Mood in 422 patients and 55 healthy controls. We also included 103 children, their parents and 18 controls by using the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and an adapted version of the ACS. We found that patients with vitiligo experience high levels of stigmatisation. They have an impaired quality of life and are more socially anxious/avoidant, helpless and (anxious-) depressive compared to healthy controls. The results correlate with disease severity, avoidant behaviour/hiding of vitiligo and the belief that psychological stress influences the disease. Female patients are generally more affected. Treatment with pseudocatalase PC-KUS improves quality of life and reduces anxious-depressive mood. Children also suffer from stigmatisation and an impaired quality of life. Parents are more socially anxious and helpless compared to the control group.