Ecological momentary assessment of post-event processing in between two speech tasks: Relationships with cognitive and affective factors involved in the maintenance of social anxiety. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kane, Leanne; Ashbaugh, Andrea R.
• Is Part Of: Behaviour research and therapy. Volume 159(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Rumination -- Social anxiety -- Ecological momentary assessment; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7967

Abstract

Abstract: Socially anxious individuals tend to review past distressing social situations, a process called post-event processing. The goal of this 4-day study was to investigate how PEP evolved over time in between two speech tasks in a sample of 101 students using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). In addition, we examined the relationships between post-event processing and other cognitive and affective processes involved in social anxiety, including anticipatory processing, anxiety, performance appraisals, and memory. Results from EMA showed that post-event and anticipatory processing decreased over time. Higher anxiety during the speech and poorer performance appraisals predicted more post-event processing, though post-event processing was unrelated to changes in performance appraisals over time. Post-event processing the day following the first speech was positively associated with anticipatory processing the day before the second speech. Participants who engaged in more post-event processing also remembered the first speech differently (e.g., more negative and emotionally intense). Implications for the cognitive-behavioural treatment of social anxiety are discussed. Highlights: Anxiety levels during a speech appear to set off a cascade of negative thinking. Post-event and anticipatory processing decreased over time. Post-event processing may have downstream effects on thoughts and anxiety.