Interpretation bias, namely the tendency to systematically assign a negative meaning to ambiguous social situations, has been extensively studied in adult populations, while in adolescents it has received little attention. The aim of this study is to replicate the study of Miers, Blӧte, Bӧgels, and Westenberg (2008) in an Italian adolescent sample (n = 301), comparing two groups: high and average social anxiety. The participants filled Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Adolescents’ Interpretation and Belief Questionnaire (AIBQ). We found, in line with Miers et al., that the bias is specific to social anxiety and present only in social situations. Instead, contrary to the hypothesis, Italian adolescents with high social anxiety have both negative bias and absence of the positive bias. Hence, prevention interventions should not focus only on the reduction of negative interpretations. They should also reinforce positive interpretations. Finally, belief in negative interpretations and the relationship between negative and positive interpretations in social anxiety deserves further study, both in adolescents and in adults.

Social anxiety and adolescence: Interpretation bias in an Italian Sample / Giannini, Marco; Loscalzo, Yura. - In: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY. - ISSN 0036-5564. - STAMPA. - 57:(2016), pp. 65-72. [10.1111/sjop.12263]

Social anxiety and adolescence: Interpretation bias in an Italian Sample

GIANNINI, MARCO;LOSCALZO, YURA
2016

Abstract

Interpretation bias, namely the tendency to systematically assign a negative meaning to ambiguous social situations, has been extensively studied in adult populations, while in adolescents it has received little attention. The aim of this study is to replicate the study of Miers, Blӧte, Bӧgels, and Westenberg (2008) in an Italian adolescent sample (n = 301), comparing two groups: high and average social anxiety. The participants filled Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Adolescents’ Interpretation and Belief Questionnaire (AIBQ). We found, in line with Miers et al., that the bias is specific to social anxiety and present only in social situations. Instead, contrary to the hypothesis, Italian adolescents with high social anxiety have both negative bias and absence of the positive bias. Hence, prevention interventions should not focus only on the reduction of negative interpretations. They should also reinforce positive interpretations. Finally, belief in negative interpretations and the relationship between negative and positive interpretations in social anxiety deserves further study, both in adolescents and in adults.
2016
57
65
72
Giannini, Marco; Loscalzo, Yura
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1060942
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