Social anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and theory of mind decoding ability

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla A. Lord ◽  
Michael K. Suvak ◽  
Gabrielle I. Liverant
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Rejection Sensitivity ◽  
Decoding Ability

scholarly journals Higher Social Rejection Sensitivity in Opioid-Dependent Patients Is Related to Smaller Insula Gray Matter Volume: A Voxel-Based Morphometric Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1187-1195
Author(s):  
Patrick Bach ◽  
Ulrich Frischknecht ◽  
Svenja Klinkowski ◽  
Melanie Bungert ◽  
Damian Karl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Phobia ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Rejection Sensitivity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Social Rejection ◽  
Morphometric Study ◽  
Social Feedback ◽  
Social Ostracism

Abstract Opioid-dependent patients are highly sensitized to negative social feedback, and increased social rejection sensitivity was linked to adverse treatment outcome, but its neurobiological underpinnings have not been understood yet. The present study investigated gray matter (GM) volume differences between 19 opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) patients and 20 healthy controls using magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry. Associations of GM volumes with subjective feelings of exclusion and inclusion during a social ostracism (Cyberball) paradigm, with rejection sensitivity, social interaction anxiety and social phobia were explored. OMT patients displayed smaller GM volume in the bilateral insula and inferior frontal gyri. Psychometric and task data showed that patients reported significantly higher rejection sensitivity, social anxiety and social phobia scores and felt more excluded and less included during the social ostracism paradigm. Smaller GM volume in the insula was associated with higher subjective exclusion, lower subjective inclusion and higher rejection sensitivity, social anxiety and social phobia scores. Findings indicate that structural deficits in emotion- and anxiety-processing brain regions in OMT patients are associated with increased social rejection sensitivity. As social rejection is a potential trigger for relapse, patients might benefit from therapeutic strategies that promote social integration.

scholarly journals Minority stress, intra-minority stress and social anxiety: Examining an extended psychological mediation framework among sexual minority men

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Mahon ◽  
G Kiernan ◽  
P Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Rejection Sensitivity ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Lgbt Community ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
Everyday Discrimination

Abstract Background Compared to their heterosexual counterparts, sexual minority men (SMM) are at an increased risk of social anxiety disorder. Distal (i.e., everyday discrimination) and proximal (i.e., internalised homophobia, rejection sensitivity, concealment of sexual orientation) minority stress processes are associated with heightened social anxiety for SMM. Stressors emerging from within the sexual minority male community, termed intra-minority stress, and psychological processes that may foster resilience (i.e., a sense of coherence, connectedness to the LGBT community) are less explored in this area. This study examined potential pathways between everyday discrimination, intra-minority stress, proximal minority stressors, resilience and social anxiety. Methods Self-identified SMM (N = 255) residing in the Republic of Ireland completed an online survey containing measures of minority stress, intra-minority stress, resilience and social anxiety. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the model. Results The model yielded a good fit to the data, X2(16) = 26.61, CFI = .99, TLI = .97, RMSEA = .05, and SRMR = .03. Rejection sensitivity and a sense of coherence had a significant indirect effect in the relationships between both exogenous variables (i.e., discrimination and intra-minority stress) and social anxiety. There were no significant pathways to social anxiety involving concealment of sexual orientation, internalised homophobia or LGBT community connectedness. Conclusions For SMM, minority stress processes and intra-minority stress are important determinants of social anxiety. Our findings demonstrate that proximal minority stressors may operate differently in a social anxiety context for SMM in western European countries. A sense of coherence was an integral factor in the model and demonstrated the strongest association with social anxiety.

scholarly journals Social Anxiety Symptoms in Young Children: Investigating the Interplay of Theory of Mind and Expressions of Shyness

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 997-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Colonnesi ◽  
Milica Nikolić ◽  
Wieke de Vente ◽  
Susan M. Bögels
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms

6.  Mental State Decoding in Dysphoric Individuals: The Role of Motivation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
Decoding Ability

Depression is associated with pervasive impairments in social and interpersonal functioning. Research demonstrates that individuals with depression have difficulty interacting with peers and show lower levels of social activity than do nondepressed individuals (Levendosky, Okun, & Parker, 1995). In addition, depressed individuals report that their social interactions are less supportive and less rewarding than those of non‐depressed individuals (Nezlek, Hamptom, & Shean, 2000). This reduced social competence may cause depressed individuals to disengage from social interaction, which may in turn exacerbate their state of depression (Rippere, 1980). It is thus important to understand and identify the mechanisms beneath these deficits.  Researchers commonly use the theory of mind framework to understand impaired social functioning in clinical conditions. Theory of mind refers to the ability to make judgments about others’ mental states to understand and predict their social behaviour. Research has found a relationship between theory of mind and dysphoria (i.e., elevated scores on a measure of depression symptoms, but not necessarily a diagnosis of clinical depression). Specifically, dysphoric individuals demonstrate enhanced mental state judgments (Harkness, Sabbagh, Jacobson, Chowdrey, & Chen, 2005).  My research investigates social motivation as an underlying mechanism for dysphoric individuals’ enhanced decoding ability. A sample of undergraduates will participate in a theory of mind decoding task following social, monetary or no motivation. I hypothesize that dysphoric individuals will make significantly more accurate judgments than non‐dysphoric individuals. Further, I predict that social motivation will enhance non‐dysphoric individuals’ sensitivity to others’ mental states.

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