Abstract
Socially anxious individuals frequently experience intense negative emotions leading up to, during, and after social encounters. Although extant literature paints an increasingly detailed picture of the kinds of emotion regulation (ER) strategies they use to navigate these experiences, we have limited insight into how socially anxious individuals choose to engage in ER and the conditions under which they try different strategies. Better understanding ER choices among socially anxious individuals may allow us to more effectively support ER in this population. Study 1 examined the extent to which three theoretically derived determinants of ER choice (anxiety intensity, motivation to regulate, and ER effort), independently and in interaction, predict in-the-moment use of avoidance-oriented, approach-oriented, and mixed avoidance-and approach-oriented strategy use, or no strategy use. We conducted a secondary data analysis of N = 114 socially anxious individuals who reported on their use of 17 different avoidance and approach-oriented ER strategies multiple times per day over a five-week ecological momentary assessment study. Results indicated that higher motivation and anxiety were both independently associated with greater use of approach-oriented strategies, avoidance-oriented strategies, or a mix of both strategies, relative to not regulating. Meanwhile, effort was linked only with use of approach-oriented strategies, which were rated as the most effortful type of strategy studied. Beyond individual effects, motivation interacted with anxiety and effort to predict ER choice, and in both cases, changes in the level of motivation (relative to changes in anxiety or effort) were more strongly linked with the ER choice outcome. To enrich this quantitative approach, Study 2 was a qualitative exploration of N = 25 individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD). We sought to understand their experiences making ER choices in the context of a standardized social stressor and evaluate their perspectives on important determinants of their ER choices. This study revealed inter- and intra-individual variability on level of awareness into their ER choice process, as well as seven primary determinants of ER choice. Some of these determinants (e.g., regulating to reduce intense emotions) fit with existing work on ER choice and SAD, while others (e.g., regulating based on prior knowledge or experience) were novel. Taken together, this work highlights the value of mixed methods work in bringing the study of ER choice into the domain of social anxiety. It also expands upon existing literature by learning from socially anxious individuals in their own words. When intervening on ER choices in a clinical setting, it may be beneficial to consider varying levels of awareness into the process, as well as the wide range of reasons for engaging in ER.
