Poster #62 - Social Anxiety, Theory of Mind, and Executive Function in Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood

• In Event: Poster Session 11

Abstract

Social anxiety is characterized by an intense fear of social situations and being evaluated by others (Segal, et al., 2015). It is believed that a negative information processing bias is a main component underlying social anxiety (Liang, 2018). This processing bias can impact judgments and appraisal of information, including understanding and interpreting the mindset of others during social situations (theory of mind) and controlling and regulating thought processes (executive function). Theory of mind, which refers to the ability to reason about mental states in oneself and others (Premack & Woodruff, 1978), and executive function, which refers to cognitive mechanisms that that help to control and regulate thought processes (Miyake & Friedman, 2012), are critical for successful social interaction. Although there is research that investigates the relation between social anxiety and theory of mind (e.g., Lenton-Brym et al., 2018), and between social anxiety and executive function (e.g., Ajilchi & Nejati, 2017; Liang, 2018), it is limited and flawed. These flaws are due to the questionable assessment of theory of mind (resulting from operational definitions that often ignore its defining feature of mental state reasoning and reliance on general aspects of social cognition such as emotion regulation; Oakley et al., 2016) and executive function (i.e., impure measures). As a result, findings are mixed and we have an incomplete understanding of the association between social anxiety and these cognitive processes. Moreover, the literature shows that executive function is an important contributor to theory of mind in adolescents and adults (Apperly, 2012; Im-Bolter et al., 2016), yet executive function has not been considered in research investigating social anxiety and theory of mind.
The present study examined whether deficits in theory of mind and executive function predicts symptoms of social anxiety in a sample of older adolescents and young adults (n = 99; mean age = 21.13, SD = 2.98; range: 18-29); a developmental stage where psychiatric disorders peak (e.g., anxiety disorders; Castaneda et al., 2008) and novel social situations are common. Participants completed measures of social anxiety, theory of mind (mental state reasoning), and three aspects of executive function (updating, shifting, inhibition). On average, participants demonstrated a moderate level of social anxiety. Contrary to expectations, performance on measures of theory of mind and executive function did not predict symptoms of social anxiety, however, a nonsignificant trend showed that better inhibition was related to higher cognitive symptoms of social anxiety. Although surprising, these findings suggest the possibility that no relation exists between these variables when the appropriate measures are used. However, it is also possible that threshold levels of social anxiety, which our sample did not reach, are needed before difficulties in theory of mind and executive function are noticeable. Regardless, our findings suggest the possibility that specific aspects of executive function on the higher extreme may also be related to different aspects of social anxiety and highlight a need for further investigation.

Authors

• Jonathan Whitsitt, Trent University
  Presenting Author

• Nancie Im-Bolter, Trent University