The Medium is the Message: Effects of Mediums of Communication on Perceptions and Emotions in Social Anxiety Disorder.

We examined the use of voice/text and visual mediums and their effects on perceptions and emotions in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Our sample included 88 individuals: 44 individuals with SAD and 44 non-socially-anxious (NSA) individuals. We used an experience sampling methodology (ESM) in which participants received daily links to online measures at random times during the day, for 21 days and reported on social interactions, emotions and perceptions. Results indicated that individuals with SAD used voice/text mediums to a greater extent and used visual mediums to a lesser extent compared to NSA individuals. However, despite preferring voice/text mediums, use of visual mediums resulted in immediate increases in positive perceptions and emotions for individuals with SAD. These findings were above and beyond the effect of depressive symptoms and remained when social anxiety was represented as a continuum of severity. This has important implications for exposure interventions in the treatment of SAD.

Oren-Yagoda R ，Aderka IM 《-》

The grass is always greener: Envy in social anxiety disorder.

In the present study we examined envy in social anxiety disorder (SAD) and its potential role in maintaining the disorder. In addition, we examined social contexts and modes of communication that may serve as moderators of envy in SAD, and the temporal relationship between envy and anxiety in the disorder. Our sample included 88 individuals (44 with SAD and 44 without SAD) who underwent an experience sampling procedure in which participants received daily measures of emotions for 21 days. Using multilevel linear modeling we found that individuals with SAD experienced elevated envy compared to individuals without SAD and this was enhanced in social (compared to non-social) contexts. For individuals with SAD, visual modes of communication were associated with elevated envy compared to voice/text communication. Finally, envy predicted subsequent anxiety above and beyond previous anxiety and additional negative emotions. The role of envy in the psychopathology and maintenance of SAD, as well as clinical implications are discussed.

Oren-Yagoda R ，Schwartz M ，Aderka IM 《-》

How real do you feel? Self- and partner-authenticity in social anxiety disorder.

Asher M ，Aderka IM 《-》

I'm Not Feeling It: Momentary Experiential Avoidance and Social Anxiety Among Individuals With Social Anxiety Disorder.

Previous studies have found that social anxiety and experiential avoidance (EA) are significantly associated, but the directionality of this relationship has not been firmly established. The present study examined momentary EA and social anxiety using repeated measurements during an opposite-sex interaction. Participants were 164 individuals (50% female): 42 were diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and the remaining 122 were non-socially-anxious individuals (NSAs). Participants formed 42 experimental dyads including 1 individual with SAD and 1 NSA individual, and 40 control dyads including 2 NSA individuals. Lower-level mediational modeling indicated that for individuals with SAD, a reciprocal relationship was observed in which changes in both EA and social anxiety mediated changes in each other. However, changes in EA explained approximately 89% of changes in social anxiety whereas changes in social anxiety explained approximately 52% of changes in EA throughout the interaction. For NSA individuals, only social anxiety predicted EA. These findings point to a deleterious cycle driven mostly by EA among individuals with SAD, but not NSA individuals. Findings are discussed within the context of previous empirical findings as well as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive-behavioral models of psychopathology.

Asher M ，Hofmann SG ，Aderka IM 《-》

Safety behaviors and positive emotions in social anxiety disorder.

The present study examined contextual factors that affect safety behavior use as well as positive emotions when using safety behaviors among individuals with SAD. Eighty-eight participants took part in the study, half (n = 44) met diagnostic criteria for SAD and half (n = 44) did not meet criteria for SAD. Participants completed a 21-day experience sampling methodology (ESM) measurement in which they reported on daily social interactions, safety behavior use, and emotions. Using multilevel linear modeling we found that both individuals with and without SAD used more safety behaviors when interacting with distant others compared to close others, but this effect was greater for individuals with SAD compared to individuals without SAD. We also found that social anxiety significantly moderated the relationship between safety behaviors in social interactions and positive emotions. Specifically, our findings indicated that individuals with higher levels of social anxiety reported lower levels of positive emotions when using safety behaviors. Implications of our findings for models of psychopathology and for treatment of SAD are discussed.

Oren-Yagoda R ，Oren B ，Aderka IM 《-》