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Interpersonal style and anxiety
The Journal of Psychology
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Agoraphobic anxiety is associated with certain interpersonal styles, particularly those involving submissiveness and inhibition. These findings suggest that relationship patterns and individual interaction styles may contribute to the development of agoraphobic symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Agoraphobic anxiety is often linked to traditional feminine sex role attitudes.
- Dyadic interactions and relationship patterns may play a role in agoraphobia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between panic experience, agoraphobic anxiety, and interpersonal style.
- To examine the relationship between anxiety symptoms and specific interpersonal behaviors in college students.
Main Methods:
- Correlational research design.
- Utilized measures of panic experience and agoraphobic anxiety.
- Assessed interpersonal style in a college student population.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between anxiety scores and submissive/deferent interpersonal styles.
- Self-effacing/obedient, mistrusting/cold, inhibited, and unassured styles also correlated positively with anxiety.
- These results indicate a link between specific interpersonal patterns and higher anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Findings support clinical observations linking interpersonal style to agoraphobic symptom development.
- The interaction between individual interpersonal style and relationship dynamics may precipitate agoraphobia.
- Further research into these psychosocial factors is warranted.