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

成人社交焦虑症(SAD)的模型主要集中在社交场合之前、期间和之后的认知偏差，这可能会导致确诊的社交焦虑症患者的负面自我概念。这可能表明，SAD患者甚至在社交场合(预见性沉思)之前就报告了更多的焦虑和担忧。在社交场合，SAD患者通常更关注自己(例如，感觉、身体知觉、想法；自我关注)。在这种情况下，反思过程被发现，重点放在社会情况的负面方面(事件后处理)。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--尚未完全阐明，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)，从而减少负面想法的产生。然而，这些影响还没有在患有自闭症的儿童身上得到检验。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自闭症维持的一些研究问题：基于目前关于自闭症(成年期)自闭症的理论假设，第一项研究考察自闭症儿童是否对内部信号(例如身体感知)做出更强烈的反应。预计他们随后会在社交场合之前、期间和之后报告更多的负面认知(自我报告为因变量)。眼球跟踪的评估完成了对主观测量作为进一步因变量的检查。注意焦点(自变量)将由光(外部信号)和位于手指上的振动装置(内部信号)来实验控制。第二项研究旨在阐明父母的社会支持和积极的自我教育(自变量)在社交压力中对认知过程的影响。除了与认知有关的主观数据外，心理生理学测量也被用作自变量。基于力量分析，对9-14岁每组46名儿童(患有和不患有SAD)进行了检验。如果成年SAD的理论模型能够解释儿童SAD，该项目将为儿童保持SAD的因素提供重要的见解和补充考虑。

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.