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Social Anxiety in Adolescents: the Role of Early Negative Memories and Fear of Compassion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

M. Cunha ,
C. Pereira ,
A. Galhardo ,
M. Couto  and
I. Massano-Cardoso
M. Cunha
Affiliation:
Psychology, Miguel Torga Institute CINEICC- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
C. Pereira
Affiliation:
Psychology, Miguel Torga Institute, Coimbra, Portugal
A. Galhardo
Affiliation:
Psychology, Miguel Torga Institute CINEICC- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
M. Couto
Affiliation:
Psychology, Miguel Torga Institute, Coimbra, Portugal
I. Massano-Cardoso
Affiliation:
Psychology, Miguel Torga Institute CINEICC- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract

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Introduction

Social anxiety refers to the discomfort felt in situations of social interaction or performance and may be an especially intense emotion in adolescence due to characteristics and developmental tasks of this age group. Although it is a common emotion and has an adaptive function, it can also develop as a negative experience raising serious difficulties in school and social life of young people.

Objectives

This study analyses the contribution of childhood negative memories and fear of compassion in social anxiety in adolescence.

Method

Three hundred and twenty adolescents (186 boys and 134 girls) with ages ranging from 12 to 19 years old took part in the study. Participants completed the following self-report measures: Early Life Experiences Scale for Adolescents, Fear of Compassion Scale (FCS-A) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A).

Results

Significant gender differences were found regarding social anxiety, empathy and early unvalued experiences within the family. Age was only correlated with social anxiety. Social anxiety showed a significant and expected correlation with the study variables. The model including fear of compassionate feelings (from other and from oneself) and early unvalued experiences showed to be the best predictor of social anxiety.

Conclusions

This study integrates the contribution of less explored variables, as the fear of compassion and early negative memories, in the understanding of social anxiety in adolescents. Results suggest that these variables may have an important role and should be incorporated in psychological interventions for social anxiety in adolescence.

Type
Article: 0428
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 30 , Issue S1: Abstracts of the 23rd European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2015 , pp. 1
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2015
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