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Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Cognitive processes mediate the relation between mindfulness and social anxiety within a clinical sample
Stefan K Schmertz1, Akihiko Masuda, Page L Anderson
1Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|March 17, 2012
Summary
Mindfulness practice is linked to reduced social anxiety symptoms. This effect is partly explained by changes in how individuals appraise negative social situations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health
Background:
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is characterized by significant distress in social situations.
- Cognitive appraisals, such as anticipating negative outcomes, are central to the maintenance of social anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between mindfulness and social anxiety symptoms.
- To examine if cognitive appraisals mediate the link between mindfulness and social anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- 98 individuals diagnosed with social phobia.
- Regression and bootstrapping mediation analyses were employed.
Main Results:
- A significant negative association was found between mindfulness and social anxiety symptoms.
- Cognitive appraisals concerning the likelihood and cost of negative social outcomes partially mediated this relationship.
Conclusions:
- Mindfulness may reduce social anxiety by altering negative cognitive appraisals.
- Further longitudinal research is recommended to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
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