Evaluation of a Brief Intervention Targeting Post-Event Processing in Social Anxiety

• Other Authors: Mitchell, Melissa Anne (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Clinical psychology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-9656

Despite increasing evidence of the negative consequences of post-event processing (PEP) in social anxiety, there is limited research on interventions for PEP. The present study tested a brief cognitive intervention compared to a brief rest condition among those with varying levels of social anxiety (N = 105). Participants were randomly assigned to either condition after giving an impromptu, videotaped speech. Four days later, they returned to complete a second videotaped impromptu speech. Anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and perceptions of speech performance were assessed multiple times throughout the study. Inconsistent with prediction, condition did not predict later anxiety, avoidance behaviors, or negative perceptions of the speech performance among those with high social anxiety. Also, there was a trend toward social anxiety predicting the mean level of linear change of anxiety in the expected direction. In addition, PEP and an alternative mediator tested (worry) did not account for the relationship between condition and change in anxiety. Those with high social anxiety demonstrated a clinically significant reduction in negative perceptions of performance. Finally, the effectiveness of different strategies to intervene on PEP between the sessions was investigated. Distracting with other thoughts, watching television, and suppressing thoughts were was marginally associated with PEP, after controlling for depression. In contrast, exercising or playing sports, trying to rationalize the thoughts, using the computer, and studying or working were not associated with PEP after controlling for depression. Findings suggest that a brief cognitive intervention for PEP may have short-term costs and necessitate multiple sessions to demonstrate effectiveness. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Spring Semester 2015. === April 24, 2015. === Post-event processing, Rumination, Social anxiety === Includes bibliographical references. === Norman B. Schmidt, Professor Directing Dissertation; Bruce Thyer, University Representative; Jesse Cougle, Committee Member; Thomas Joiner, Committee Member; Christopher Schatschneider, Committee Member.