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Fear of Positive Evaluation and Social Anxiety

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2016

Lara Kocijan  and
Lynne M. Harris
Lara Kocijan
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, Australian College of Applied Psychology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Lynne M. Harris*
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, Australian College of Applied Psychology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Professor Lynne M. Harris, School of Psychological Science, Australian College of Applied Psychology, Level 5, 11 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) is a recognised diagnostic feature of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Recently, the role of fear of positive evaluation (FPE) as a factor contributing to SAD has been a focus of research: there is evidence that FPE is associated with measures of social anxiety independent of measures of FNE and that measures of FPE may be sensitive to interventions for SAD. The present study examined the relationships between FPE, FNE and measures of social anxiety and depression in a sample assessed as suitable for group cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for social anxiety (n = 35), and the responsiveness of measures of FPE and FNE to standard group CBT for social anxiety in a subset of this group (n = 20). Measures of FNE and FPE were positively associated with each other and with measures of social interaction anxiety, general social anxiety concerns, and depression. However, the relationship between the FPE measure and measures of general social anxiety concerns and depression was not significant when FNE was statistically controlled. This is consistent with the view that FPE is specifically related to social interaction anxiety. In this sample, a measure of FPE was reduced in a sample receiving standard group CBT for social anxiety compared to a waitlisted group. The implications of these findings for the conceptualisation of SAD and for the delivery of interventions for those with SAD are considered.

Keywords

social anxietyfear of positive evaluationfear of negative evaluation
Type
Standard Papers
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 33 , Issue 1 , April 2016 , pp. 15 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016 

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