Buffering cognitive irregularities based on internal and external cues in children with social anxiety disorder

成人社交焦虑障碍（social anxiety disorder， SAD）的模型主要集中在社交情境之前、之中和之后的认知偏差，这可能导致被诊断为SAD的患者产生消极的自我概念。研究表明，SAD患者甚至在社交场合（预期反刍）出现前都会表现出更多的焦虑和担忧。在社交场合中，SAD患者往往更关注自己（如感觉、身体感知、想法；自我关注）。情境结束后，反刍过程主要集中在社会情境的消极方面（事件后加工）。这些因素如何受到影响以及它们如何相互作用——可能是注意力转向内部信号——尚未完全澄清，特别是在儿童中。此外，根据理论模型，可以预期缓冲效应是可能的（例如，通过社会支持或积极的自我指导），导致消极思想的产生较少。然而，这些影响尚未在患有SAD的儿童中得到检验。因此，目前的项目旨在进行两项实验研究，试图回答目前关于儿童时期SAD维持的一些研究问题：基于目前的理论假设（成年期）SAD维持，第一项研究检查患有SAD的儿童是否对内部信号（例如身体感知）反应更强烈。预计他们随后会在社交情境之前、期间和之后报告更多的负面认知（自我报告作为因变量）。眼动追踪的评估完成了作为进一步因变量的主观测量的检验。注意力的焦点（自变量）将由一个光（外部信号）和一个位于手指上的振动装置（内部信号）实验控制。第二项研究旨在阐明父母社会支持和积极自我指导（自变量）对社会压力下认知过程的影响。除了有关认知的主观数据外，心理生理测量也被用作自变量。基于功率分析，对年龄在9至14岁的每组46名儿童（有或没有SAD）进行了检查。如果成年期SAD的理论模型可以解释童年期SAD，该项目将为童年期SAD的维持因素提供重要见解，并增加考虑因素。

Models of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in adults have focused on cognitive biases before, during and after social situations, which might lead to a negative self-concept in patients with diagnosed SAD. It could be shown that patients with SAD report more anxiety and worries even before a social situation (anticipatory rumination). During a social situation, patients with SAD often focus more prominently on themselves (e.g. feelings, bodily perceptions, thoughts; self-focused attention). After the situation, rumination processes are found with a focus on negative aspects of the social situation (post-event processing). How these factors are influenced and how they interact – possibly a shift of attention towards internal signals – has not yet been fully clarified, especially in children. Furthermore, based on theoretical models it can be expected that buffer effects are possible (e.g. by social support or positive self-instructions) leading to less generation of negative thoughts. However, these effects have not yet been examined in children with SAD.Therefore, the current project aims to conduct two experimental studies which try to answer some of the current research questions about maintenance of SAD in childhood: Based on current theoretical assumptions of maintenance of SAD (in adulthood), the first study examines if children with SAD react more strongly towards internal signals (e.g. bodily perceptions). It is expected that they subsequently report more negative cognitions before, during and after a social situation (self-report as dependent variable). Assessment of eye tracking completes the examination of subjective measures as further dependent variable. The focus of attention (independent variable) will be experimentally controlled by a light (external signal) and a vibration device located at the finger (internal signal).The second study aims to clarify influence of cognitive processes by social support from the parents and positive self-instruction (independent variables) during social stress. Besides subjective data concerning cognitions, psychophysiological measures are used as independent variables.Based on a power analysis, a sample of 46 children per group (with and without SAD) aged 9 to 14 is examined.The project will offer important insights into factors of maintaining SAD in childhood and add to considerations, if theoretical models of SAD in adulthood can provide explanations for SAD in childhood.