scholarly journals Self- but Not Other-Dimensions of Mentalizing Moderate the Impairment Associated With Social Anxiety in Adolescents From the General Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergi Ballespí ◽  
Jaume Vives ◽  
Jacqueline Nonweiler ◽  
Ariadna Perez-Domingo ◽  
Neus Barrantes-Vidal
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Social Competence ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Sociometric Status ◽  
Self And Other

Mentalizing, or social cognition, refers to the brain’s higher order capacity that allows humans to be aware of one’s own and others’ mental states (e.g., emotions, feelings, intentions). While cognition in social anxiety has been broadly analyzed, there is a paucity of research regarding the role of social cognition. Moreover, mentalizing or social cognition research is traditionally focused on the understanding of others’ mental states, rather than self-mentalizing. Finally, most studies analyze the role of social cognition in the development or maintenance of social anxiety, yet no study to date has analyzed whether social cognition moderates functional impairment associated with it. This study analyzes whether self- and other-mentalizing moderate the relationship between social anxiety and impairment in social and self-functioning. A sample of 262 adolescents from the non-clinical population was assessed on measures of social anxiety, self- and other- mentalization, indicators of social functioning (social competence and sociometric status), and indicators of self-functioning (depression and self-esteem). Multiple linear regressions were conducted to test possible moderation effects of self-mentalizing and other-mentalizing on the relationships between social anxiety and social and self-functioning. Results revealed that other-mentalizing does not moderate social- nor self-functioning, while self-mentalizing moderates the impairment of all of them. While impairment in social functioning is buffered by one dimension of self-mentalizing (emotional clarity; b = 0.003, p = 0.043 and b = 0.016, p = 0.008 for social competence and sociometric status, respectively), impairment in self-functioning is strengthened by the other dimension (attention to emotions; b = −0.007, p = 0.008 and b = 0.009, p = 0.047 for self-esteem and depression, respectively). Probing the moderation at the 16th, 50th, and 84th percentiles revealed that the negative imbalance between dimensions (i.e., high attention and low clarity) tended to exacerbate impairment most on all indicators, while the positive imbalance (i.e., low attention and high clarity) was usually the most buffering condition. This supports that “low-flying” or implicit mentalizing provides more resilience than explicit mentalizing (i.e., high attention and high clarity). Findings suggest that the work on emotional self-awareness should be stressed in the intervention of the social anxiety spectrum conditions in order to improve prevention, functioning, and ultimately, treatments, of people impaired by symptoms of social anxiety.

scholarly journals Self and Other Mentalizing Polarities and Dimensions of Mental Health: Association With Types of Symptoms, Functioning and Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergi Ballespí ◽  
Jaume Vives ◽  
Carla Sharp ◽  
Lorena Chanes ◽  
Neus Barrantes-Vidal
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Life Goals ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Mood Scale ◽  
Mental Health Association

Research suggests that the ability to understand one’s own and others’ minds, or mentalizing, is a key factor for mental health. Most studies have focused the attention on the association between global measures of mentalizing and specific disorders. In contrast, very few studies have analyzed the association between specific mentalizing polarities and global measures of mental health. This study aimed to evaluate whether self and other polarities of mentalizing are associated with a multidimensional notion of mental health, which considers symptoms, functioning, and well-being. Additionally, the level or depth of mentalizing within each polarity was also analyzed. A sample of 214 adolescents (12–18 years old, M = 14.7, and SD = 1.7; 53.3% female) was evaluated on measures of self- (Trait Meta-Mood Scale or TMMS-24) and other- mentalizing (Adolescent Mentalizing Interview or AMI), multi-informed measures of psychopathology and functioning based on Achenbach’s system, and measures of psychological well-being (self-esteem, happiness, and motivation to life goals). Results revealed no association between mentalizing polarities and higher-order symptom factors (internalizing, externalizing, and global symptoms or “p” factor). Self-mentalizing was associated with self-esteem (B = 0.076, p < 0.0005) and motivation to life goals (B = 0.209, p = 0.002), and other-mentalizing was associated to general, social and role functioning (B = 0.475, p < 0.0005; B = 0.380, p = 0.005; and B = 0.364, p = 0.004). This association between aspects of self-other mentalizing and self-other function has important implications for treatment and prevention. Deeper mentalizing within each polarity (i.e., comprehension beyond simple attention to one’s own mental states, and mentalizing referred to attachment figures vs. mentalizing referred to the characters of a story) revealed stronger associations with functioning and well-being. Because mentalizing polarities are associated with functioning and well-being but not with symptoms, a new hypothesis is developed: mentalizing does not contribute to resiliency by preventing symptoms, but by helping to deal with them, thus improving functioning and well-being independently of psychopathology. These findings support that promoting mentalizing across development may improve mental health, even in non-clinical population.

The role of alexithymia in social cognition: Evidence from a non-clinical population

2020 ◽  
Vol 273 ◽  
pp. 482-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marialaura Di Tella ◽  
Mauro Adenzato ◽  
Caroline Catmur ◽  
Francesca Miti ◽  
Lorys Castelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Clinical Population

scholarly journals Longitudinal predictors of subjective recovery in psychosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 209 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Law ◽  
Nick Shryane ◽  
Richard P. Bentall ◽  
Anthony P. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Path Analysis ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Predictive Factors ◽  
Service User ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Recovery Score

BackgroundResearch has highlighted the importance of recovery as defined by the service user, and suggests a link to negative emotion, although little is known about the role of negative emotion in predicting subjective recovery.AimsTo investigate longitudinal predictors of variability in recovery scores with a focus on the role of negative emotion.MethodParticipants (n=110) with experience of psychosis completed measures of psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, subjective recovery, depression, hopelessness and self-esteem at baseline and 6 months later. Path analysis was used to examine predictive factors for recovery and negative emotion.ResultsSubjective recovery scores were predicted by negative emotion, positive self-esteem and hopelessness, and to a lesser extent by symptoms and functioning. Current recovery score was not predicted by past recovery score after accounting for past symptoms, current hopelessness and current positive self-esteem.ConclusionsPsychosocial factors and negative emotion appear to be the strongest longitudinal predictors of variation in subjective recovery, rather than psychiatric symptoms.

scholarly journals Self-Schemas and Self-Esteem Discrepancies in Subclinical Paranoia: The Essential Role of Depressive Symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manel Monsonet ◽  
Sergi Ballespí ◽  
Tamara Sheinbaum ◽  
Carmen Valiente ◽  
Regina Espinosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dimensional Approach ◽  
Group Approach ◽  
Implicit And Explicit

Background : Self-concepts are being intensively investigated in relation to paranoia, but research has shown some contradictory findings. Studying subclinical phenomena in a non-clinical population should allow for a clearer understanding given that clinical confounding factors are avoided. We explored self-esteem, self-schemas, and implicit/explicit self-esteem discrepancies in three non-clinical groups with different psychopathological traits and a control group.Methods: Participants with elevated trait-paranoia (n = 41), depressive symptoms (n = 34), a combination of both traits (n = 32), and a control group (n = 71) were assessed on implicit and explicit self-esteem, self-schemas, depression, and paranoia. A dimensional approach with the total sample (n = 208) was also used to complement the information provided by the group approach.Results: All groups presented similar and positive levels of implicit self-esteem. Trait-paranoia participants had similar levels of explicit self-esteem and self-schemas compared with the control group. However, the group with a combination of trait-paranoia and depressive symptoms showed the lowest levels of positive self-schemas and self-esteem. Furthermore, this group and the control group displayed implicit/explicit self-esteem discrepancies, although in opposite directions and with different implications. The dimensional approach revealed associations of trait-paranoia and depressive symptoms with poor explicit self-esteem and self-schemas but not with implicit self-esteem.Conclusions: Trait-paranoia participants showed different self-representations depending on whether depressive symptoms were present or not. The interaction between subclinical neurotic and psychotic traits entailed a detrimental self-representation that might increase the risk for psychopathology.

scholarly journals The role of social identity and online social capital on psychosocial outcomes in MMO players

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Katherine Kaye ◽  
Rachel Kowert ◽  
Sally Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Competence ◽  
Psychosocial Outcomes ◽  
Online Gaming ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Differential Outcomes ◽  
Bridging Capital

Previous literature has found inconsistent relationships between online gaming engagement and psychosocial outcomes. To add clarity to this discussion, we explored these relationships though a multidimensional lens of gaming engagement. That is, we examined the role of gamer identity and online social capital as mediators of online gaming engagement and psychosocial outcomes (i.e. self-esteem, loneliness, social competence). We addressed this in a sample of Massively Multiplayer Online (MMOs) players (N = 708), via an online questionnaire to establish cross-sectional associations. Findings revealed positive relationships between MMO engagement (measured by a multidimensional measure), gamer identity, and online social capital. Additionally, gamer identity related positively to self-esteem and social competence, and negatively with loneliness. Differential outcomes were also found between social capital and loneliness. Specifically, loneliness was negatively related to online bonding, but positively with online bridging capital, highlighting the importance of exploring the constitution of gaming communities to assess their role in promoting varying dimensions of social capital and the associated psychological correlates. Taken together, we evidence the psychosocial benefits of MMO engagement, specifically in relation to the social value of identifying and connecting with others in MMOs. Additionally, we highlight the complexities surrounding the concept and measurement of gaming engagement

scholarly journals M230. VIRTUAL REALITY FOR IMPROVING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION (VR-SOAP): DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW TREATMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSIS

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S224-S224
Author(s):  
Dauw Muijsson ◽  
Elise van der Stouwe ◽  
Kirstin Greaves-Lord ◽  
Saskia Nijman ◽  
Marieke Pijnenborg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
The Social

Abstract Background Young people with a psychotic disorder have the same social goals as their healthy peers, but their social networks are smaller, they participate less often in leisure activities and are less successful in work and education. Current treatments have only moderate effects on social functioning. Virtual Reality (VR) has a great potential to improve the social functioning of young people with psychosis. With VR, individuals can practice with simulations of difficult social situations in a safe and personalized way. Therefore, we aimed to develop and investigate feasibility of a novel VR treatment (VR-SOAP) for improving social contacts, leisure activities and social participation of young people with a psychotic disorder. Methods As a first step, a literature search of causes of impaired social functioning was conducted. Underlying relationships and mechanisms of the causes were identified. The causes of impaired social functioning were translated into concepts for the VR modules. The concepts were translated into requirements for the VR modules. Subsequently, the software and the treatment manual were developed in an iterative process with a team of experiential experts, psychosis therapists, researchers, VR experts and software engineers. The final prototype will be tested in a small pilot study with three therapists and six patients. In order to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the treatment and to evaluate and improve the treatment protocol using input from therapists and patients. Results Several determinants of impaired social functioning were identified: negative symptoms, impaired social cognition, paranoid ideations, social anxiety, low self-esteem, self-stigma and poor communication skills. These causes are multifaceted, but at the same time interrelated and overlapping. VR-SOAP was designed as five modules that address these causes, four optional modules (1–4) and one fixed module (5). The treatment is personalized and takes the specific individual contributing causes into account. Patient and therapist select two out of four optional modules. In module 1 (Negative symptoms) patients will focus on increasing their motivation and pleasure in dealing with amotivation and anhedonia. In module 2 (Social cognition) patients will practice with recognizing facial emotions and interpreting social situations. Module 3 (Paranoid ideations) consists of exposure exercises and behavioural experiments testing harm expectancies. In module 4 (Self-esteem and self-stigma) patients will focus on positive aspects of the self and challenge self-criticism. All patients will end with module 5 (Communication and Interaction skills), in which experiences, knowledge and skills from other modules are integrated and applied in role-plays. Currently, the pilot feasibility study is ongoing. Preliminary results will be presented. Discussion VR-SOAP is a promising new intervention for enhancing the social functioning of young adults with psychosis. VR is very useful for practising new social behaviour. It enables patients to practice with real-world social situations in a safe and gradual way. In the coming years, a single-blind randomized controlled trial will be conducted to test the effect of VR-SOAP on social contacts, leisure activities and social participation.

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