Social anxiety and interpersonal stress generation: the moderating role of interpersonal distress
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Existing models of social anxiety scarcely account for interpersonal stress generation. These models also seldom include interpersonal factors that compound the effects of social anxiety. Given recent findings that two forms of interpersonal distress, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, intensify social anxiety and cause interpersonal stress generation, these two constructs may be especially relevant to examining social anxiety and interpersonal stress generation together. DESIGN: The current study extended prior research by examining the role of social anxiety in the occurrence of negative and positive interpersonal events and evaluated whether interpersonal distress moderated these associations. METHODS: Undergraduate students (N = 243; M = 20.46 years; 83% female) completed self-report measures of social anxiety, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness, as well as a self-report measure and clinician-rated interview assessing negative and positive interpersonal events that occurred over the past six weeks. RESULTS: Higher levels of social anxiety were associated only with a higher occurrence of negative interpersonal dependent events, after controlling for depressive symptoms. This relationship was stronger among individuals who also reported higher levels of perceived burdensomeness, but not thwarted belongingness. CONCLUSIONS: It may be important to more strongly consider interpersonal stress generation in models of social anxiety.
Source: Anxiety Stress & Coping
Authors: David M. Siegel, Taylor A. Burke, Jessica L. Hamilton, Marilyn L. Piccirillo, Adela Scharff, Lauren B. Alloy
Institutions: Temple University, Washington University in St. Louis
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Depression Surge in Adolescence & Gender Differences: Biocognitive Mechanisms, Behavioral Approach System (BAS)and Bipolar Spectrum: Biopsychosocial Integration, Longitudinal Risk Factors For Depression and Development of Individual Risk Models, Physiological Markers of Stress Generation and Affect Reactivity in Depression, Risk for Bipolar Disorder: Reward-related Brain Function & Social Rhythms, Risk for Adolescent Depression: Stress, Cognitive Vulnerability, & Inflammation, Translational Research Training in Sleep and Circadian Science
OpenAlex ID: W2807500271