Biased estimations of interpersonal distance in non-clinical social anxiety. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Givon-Benjio, Nur; Okon-Singer, Hadas
• Is Part Of: Journal of anxiety disorders. Volume 69(2020:Jan.)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Social anxiety (SA) -- Estimation biases -- Estimated interpersonal distance (EID) -- Comfortable interpersonal distance (CID); Anxiety -- Periodicals; Anxiety Disorders -- Periodicals; Angoisse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.8522
• DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2019.102171
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-6185

Abstract

Highlights: Social anxiety is characterized by a preference for greater distance from strangers. This distance preference is predicted by biased distance estimation from strangers. These results were replicated and validated in a real-life setting scenario. Avoidance behavior in social anxiety may be related to biased distance estimation. Abstract: Previous studies have indicated that socially-anxious individuals prefer to maintain a greater interpersonal distance from others, specifically from strangers. Notwithstanding, it has yet to be examined whether this preference for distance is associated with estimating the physical interpersonal distance in a distorted manner. In the current study, 100 participants performed a computerized task that measured estimated distance (Study 1). An additional sample of 75 participants performed the same task for the purpose of replication, and further took part in a new task that measured estimated distance from a stranger in a real-life setting (Study 2). In both studies social anxiety correlated with estimating the interpersonal distance from strangers as shorter. Furthermore, ones' preferred distance from a stranger was predicted by this distance estimation bias. Taken together, our findings are the first to reveal distance estimation bias in social anxiety, suggesting a role for distorted distance estimation in avoidance behavior.