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Moscovitch DA, White K, Hudd T. Hooking the Self Onto the Past: How Positive Autobiographical Memory Retrieval Benefits People With Social Anxiety. Clin Psychol Sci 2024; 12:882-902. [PMID: 39309219 PMCID: PMC11415290 DOI: 10.1177/21677026231195792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Do people with social anxiety (SA) benefit from positive memory retrieval that heightens self-relevant meaning? In this preregistered study, an analog sample of 255 participants with self-reported clinically significant symptoms of SA were randomly assigned to retrieve and process a positive social-autobiographical memory by focusing on either its self-relevant meaning (deep processing) or its perceptual features (superficial processing). Participants were then socially excluded and instructed to reimagine their positive memory. Analyses revealed that participants assigned to the deep processing condition experienced significantly greater improvements than participants in the superficial processing condition in positive affect, social safeness, and positive beliefs about others during initial memory retrieval and in negative and positive beliefs about the self following memory reactivation during recovery from exclusion. These novel findings highlight the potential utility of memory-based interventions for SA that work by "hooking" self-meaning onto recollections of positive interpersonal experiences that elicit feelings of social acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Moscovitch
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment, University of Waterloo
| | - Kendra White
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment, University of Waterloo
| | - Taylor Hudd
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment, University of Waterloo
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2
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Antunes R, Rodrigues F, Jacinto M, Amaro N, Matos R, Monteiro D. Exploring the relationship across autonomous motivation, affects, and anxiety among gym practitioners during the second COVID-19 lockdown. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7272. [PMID: 38538823 PMCID: PMC10973380 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57878-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The present study explores the association of autonomous motivation and the relationship of positive and negative affect on anxiety levels among individuals engaged in gym practitioners during the second COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 196 exercisers (29.17 ± 10.77) were enrolled in the present study, of which 112 (57.1%) were women and 84 (42.9%) were men. The survey included sociodemographic data, as well as validated instruments measuring autonomous motivation, positive and negative affect, and anxiety states related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results revealed a positive association between autonomous motivation and positive affect (β = 0.36, CI 0.12, 0.37; p < 0.001), and a negative association between autonomous motivation and negative affect (β = - 0.17, CI - 0.31, - 0.01; p = 0.03). Moreover positive, and negative affect are negatively (β = - 0.33, CI - 0.43, - 0.24; p < 0.001) and positively (β = 0.72, CI 0.57, 0.82; p < 0.001) associated to anxiety, respectively. Thus, this study appears to emphasize the association of autonomous motivation on affect as a potential buffer against anxiety levels, particularly in a context where practitioners found themselves restricted in their usual gym practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl Antunes
- ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Filipe Rodrigues
- ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Life Quality Research Centre, Leiria, Portugal
| | - Miguel Jacinto
- ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal.
- Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Nuno Amaro
- ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Rui Matos
- ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Diogo Monteiro
- ESECS - Polytechnic University of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal
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Lai CYY, Chen LH, Lai FHY, Fung AWT, Ng SSM. The association between satisfaction with life and anxiety symptoms among Chinese elderly: a moderated mediation analysis. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:855. [PMID: 38097936 PMCID: PMC10722706 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04490-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested that certain personal psychological variables (e.g., life satisfaction and cognitive function) and physical variables (e.g., body mass index [BMI]) are significantly associated with individuals' anxiety symptoms. However, relevant research on elderly is lagging and no studies have yet investigated the combined impact of these variables on anxiety. Thus, we conducted the present study to investigate the potential moderator role of BMI and the potential mediator role of cognitive function underlying the relationship between life satisfaction and anxiety symptoms in Chinese elderly based in Hong Kong. METHODS Sixty-seven elderly aged 65 years old and above were recruited from the local elderly community centres in this pilot study. Each participant underwent a systematic evaluation using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Hong Kong Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and were measured for their body weight and height. Regression analysis using the bootstrapping method was employed to test the hypothesized moderated mediation model. RESULTS Our findings demonstrated the overall model accounted for 23.05% of the variance in scores of HAM-A (F (8, 57) = 2.134, p = 0.047) in Chinese elderly. There was a significant association between life satisfaction and anxiety symptoms (p = 0.031), indicating that individuals with higher life satisfaction were associated with less anxiety symptoms. Moreover, this relationship was positively moderated by BMI (b = 0.066, 95% CI [0.004, 0.128]), especially in Chinese elderly with BMI at a lower level (b = -0.571, 95% CI [-0.919, -0.224]) and an average level (b = -0.242, 95% CI [-0.460, -0.023]). No significant mediator role was detected for cognitive function (b = -0.006, 95% CI [-0.047, 0.044]) in our model. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that increased life satisfaction can reduce anxiety symptoms among Chinese elderly as their BMI decreases (when BMI ranged between "mean - 1SD" and "mean" of the population). The significant interaction between psychological and physical factors underlying anxiety symptoms found in this study, presents a promising opportunity for translation into multi-level psychological and physical interventions for the management of anxiety in ageing patients during clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Y Y Lai
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Mental Health Research Center (MHRC), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lu Hua Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Mental Health Research Center (MHRC), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Frank H Y Lai
- Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, The Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ada W T Fung
- Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shamay S M Ng
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Taylor CT, Rosenfield D, Dowd SM, Dutcher CD, Hofmann SG, Otto MW, Pollack MH, Smits JAJ. What good are positive emotions for treatment? A replication test of whether trait positive emotionality predicts response to exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder. Behav Res Ther 2023; 171:104436. [PMID: 37979218 PMCID: PMC10862259 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positive valence emotions serve functions that may facilitate response to exposure therapy - they encourage approach behavior, diminish perceived threat reactivity, and enhance assimilation of new information in memory. Few studies have examined whether positive emotions predict exposure therapy success and extant findings are mixed. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of an exposure therapy trial for social anxiety disorder to test the hypothesis that patients endorsing higher trait positive emotions at baseline would display the greatest treatment response. N = 152 participants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of d-cycloserine augmentation completed five sessions of group exposure therapy. Pre-treatment positive emotionality was assessed using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Social anxiety symptoms were assessed throughout treatment by blinded evaluators using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. RESULTS Accounting for baseline symptom severity, multilevel growth curve models revealed that patients with higher pre-treatment positive emotionality displayed faster social anxiety symptom reductions and lower scores at 3-month follow-up. This predictive effect remained significant after controlling for baseline depression and extraversion (without the positive emotionality facet). CONCLUSIONS These findings add to emerging evidence suggesting that explicitly targeting and enhancing positive emotions during exposure to perceived threat may improve treatment outcomes for anxiety and fear-based disorders. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02066792https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02066792.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles T Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive (Mail code 0855) La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0855, United States.
| | - David Rosenfield
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, United States
| | - Sheila M Dowd
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, United States
| | - Christina D Dutcher
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Stefan G Hofmann
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael W Otto
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, United States
| | | | - Jasper A J Smits
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Mental Health Research, University of Texas at Austin, United States
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Hudd T, Moscovitch DA. Social anxiety inhibits needs repair following exclusion in both relational and non-relational reward contexts: The mediating role of positive affect. Behav Res Ther 2023; 162:104270. [PMID: 36746058 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The pain of social exclusion can motivate people to capitalize on opportunities to reconnect with others and repair their self-esteem and feelings of belongingness. This effect is often diminished for those with high social anxiety (HSA). Prior research suggests this may be due to their diminished capacity for recognizing and emotionally responding to relational reward cues. We investigated whether non-relational success experiences in the aftermath of exclusion may be an alternative means of repairing threatened self-esteem and belongingness in HSA individuals. In a preregistered, online study, we threatened belongingness and self-esteem in 422 participants by excluding them in a Cyberball game and then assigned them to one of three conditions: Relational Repair, Non-Relational Repair, or a No-Repair control condition. Results showed that both repair contexts facilitated needs repair relative to the no-repair control condition, and mediation analyses suggested this effect was driven by increased positive affect (PA). HSA individuals were less likely to restore needs regardless of condition and this effect appeared to be driven by low PA. Findings emphasize the critical role of PA for restoring threatened needs in the aftermath of exclusion and suggest that HSA inhibits needs repair processes across both relational and non-relational reward contexts.
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Antunes R, Monteiro D, Silva C, Filipe D, Cordeiro F, Frontini R. Motivation and anxiety during the second COVID-19 lockdown in gym exercisers: The mediating role of affects and satisfaction with life. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-11. [PMID: 36468169 PMCID: PMC9684858 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03908-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to analyze the association between motivation (self-determined and non-self-determined motivation), positive and negative affect, life satisfaction and state-anxiety in a sample of gym exercisers, during the 2nd COVID-19 lockdown in Portugal. Also, we aimed to analyze the possible mediating role of positive and negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between motivation and levels of state-anxiety. A total of 201 gym participants (30.42 ± 11.22) were enrolled in the present study, of which 116 (57.7%) were women and 85 (42.3%) were men. The survey included sociodemographic data as well as the subsequently validated instruments: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results revealed a positive association between state-anxiety and negative affect (r = .69), controlled motivation (r = .33), and autonomous motivation (r = .25). Still, state-anxiety was negatively associated with positive affect (r = -.40) and with satisfaction with life (r = -.43),. In addition, the results of mediation analysis, revealed inconsistent mediation of positive affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between autonomous motivation and state-anxiety. However, a total mediation was observed through negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between controlled motivation and anxiety since the indirect effect (β = .27) is higher than the direct effect (β = .06). Overall, the results reinforce that positive affect and satisfaction with life could act as a possible buffer against state-anxiety in gym exercisers and, thus, should be considered in future interventions and studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Antunes
- CIEQV - Life Quality Research Centre, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
- ESECS, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - D. Monteiro
- CIEQV - Life Quality Research Centre, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
- ESECS, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - C. Silva
- ESECS, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - D. Filipe
- ESECS, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - F. Cordeiro
- ESECS, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - R. Frontini
- CIEQV - Life Quality Research Centre, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
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A novel procedure to investigate social anxiety using videoconferencing software: A proof-of-concept study. Psychiatry Res 2022; 316:114770. [PMID: 35961154 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is very common and can be significantly disabling. New treatments are needed as the remission rate for SAD is the lowest of all the anxiety disorders. Experimental medicine models, in which features resembling a clinical disorder are experimentally induced, are a cost-effective and timely approach to explore potential novel treatments for psychiatric disorders. Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, there is a need to develop experimental medicine models that can be carried out remotely. We developed a novel procedure to investigate SAD (the InterneT-based Stress test for Social Anxiety Disorder; ITSSAD) that can be carried out entirely online by a single investigator, potentially reducing costs and maximising internal reliability. The procedure involves an anticipatory period followed by a naturalistic social interaction task. In a sample of 20 non-treatment-seeking volunteers with symptoms of SAD, the ITSSAD induced significant subjective anxiety and reduced positive affect. Further, increased social anxiety symptoms at baseline predicted increased anxiety during the social interaction task. This protocol needs further validation with physiological measures. The ITSSAD is a new tool for researchers to investigate mechanisms underlying social anxiety disorder.
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Abstract
Humans, like other animals, are fundamentally motivated to pursue rewarding outcomes and avoid aversive ones. Anxiety disorders are conceptualized, defined, and treated based on heightened sensitivity to perceived aversive outcomes, including imminent threats as well as those that are uncertain yet could occur in the future. Avoidance is the central strategy used to mitigate anticipated aversive outcomes - often at the cost of sacrificing potential rewards and hindering people from obtaining desired outcomes. It is for these reasons that people are often motivated to seek treatment. In this chapter, we consider whether and how anhedonia - the loss of interest in pursuing and/or reduced responsiveness to rewarding outcomes - may serve as a barrier to recovering from clinically impairing anxiety. Increasingly recognized as a prominent symptom in many individuals with elevated anxiety, anhedonia is not explicitly considered within prevailing theoretical models or treatment approaches of anxiety. Our goal, therefore, is to review what is known about anhedonia within the anxiety disorders and then integrate this knowledge into a functional perspective to consider how anhedonia could maintain anxiety and limit treatment response. Our overarching thesis is that anhedonia disrupts the key processes that are central to supporting anxiety recovery. We end this chapter by considering how explicitly targeting anhedonia in treatment can optimize outcomes for anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles T Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Samantha N Hoffman
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Amanda J Khan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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Orth RD, Hur J, Jacome AM, Savage CLG, Grogans SE, Kim YH, Choe EK, Shackman AJ, Blanchard JJ. Understanding the Consequences of Moment-by-Moment Fluctuations in Mood and Social Experience for Paranoid Ideation in Psychotic Disorders. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2022; 3:sgac064. [PMID: 36387970 PMCID: PMC9642311 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgac064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Among individuals with psychotic disorders, paranoid ideation is common and associated with increased impairment, decreased quality of life, and a more pessimistic prognosis. Although accumulating research indicates negative affect is a key precipitant of paranoid ideation, the possible protective role of positive affect has not been examined. Further, despite the interpersonal nature of paranoid ideation, there are limited and inconsistent findings regarding how social context, perceptions, and motivation influence paranoid ideation in real-world contexts. In this pilot study, we used smartphone ecological momentary assessment to understand the relevance of hour-by-hour fluctuations in mood and social experience for paranoid ideation in adults with psychotic disorders. Multilevel modeling results indicated that greater negative affect is associated with higher concurrent levels of paranoid ideation and that it is marginally related to elevated levels of future paranoid ideation. In contrast, positive affect was unrelated to momentary experiences of paranoid ideation. More severe momentary paranoid ideation was also associated with an elevated desire to withdraw from social encounters, irrespective of when with familiar or unfamiliar others. These observations underscore the role of negative affect in promoting paranoid ideation and highlight the contribution of paranoid ideation to the motivation to socially withdraw in psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D Orth
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Juyoen Hur
- Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Anyela M Jacome
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Shannon E Grogans
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Young-Ho Kim
- College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Eun Kyoung Choe
- College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Alexander J Shackman
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Maryland Neuroimaging Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Jack J Blanchard
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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