Dimensional Construct Research Articles

While stairing up: perceiving shades of academic motivation of high school first-generation learners and desired academic outcomes

What motivates a first-generation learner to go to school? The question haunts a social scientist when exploring dimensions of academic motivation of the first-generation Learners in rural and remote context. Learners from the low Socio-Economic Status are ‘at risk’ of academic motivation, cohere with specific psychological behaviours leading to academic failure. Gathering quantitative and qualitative data, the study opts to capture dimensions of motivational constructs of first-generation Learners. The study adopts explanatory sequential research design that entails triangulating quantitative statistical results with qualitative findings to validate the outcome of the study. The student participants were 1554 selected through stratified random sampling using gender, social affiliation and grade as criteria for getting hierarchy. The findings include steady decline of academic motivation of Learners in the secondary level of school education under the lens of socio-economic context, home environment and school and neighborhood quality perceiving academic, and psychological hardships as the outcome.

A transdiagnostic approach of negative symptoms in psychiatric disorders: replication of a two-factor structure in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Recent empirical findings suggest that negative symptoms are not limited to schizophrenia (SCZ) but also present in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) patients. Although SCZ patients generally showed a latent structure comprising the motivation and pleasure (MAP) and expression (EXP) factors, it remains unclear whether the same latent structure exists in MDD and BD patients. We administered the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) and the Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) to 179 MDD patients and 152 BD patients. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the one-factor model, the two-factor model of the MAP and the EXP domain, the five-factor model of anhedonia, avolition, asociality, alogia, and blunted affect, and the hierarchical model comprising the first-order five-factor, and the second-order two-factor (MAP and EXP factors). We further examined the correlations between demographics and the negative symptom dimensions found in the best factor model. The CFA showed that, when the CAINS and the BNSS were combined together, the two-factor model of MAP and EXP provided the best model fit than other competing models, in the MDD alone sample, BD alone sample, and the combined clinical sample. The two-factor model of the MAP and EXP appears to be a stable, transdiagnostic latent structure of negative symptoms across BD and MDD. Clarifying negative symptoms in MDD and BD can facilitate future research on the underlying neural mechanisms of the MAP and EXP dimensions.

Compulsive buying disorder: Conceptualization based on addictive, impulsive, and obsessive-compulsive features and comorbidity

BackgroundThis study sought to examine the conceptualization of compulsive buying disorder in a sample of adults drawn from the community and its associated mental health correlates. MethodsAn online survey of “Personality, Mental Health, and Well-Being” was distributed to 300 adults aged 18–75 years. The survey measured a range of behaviors, such as buying behavior, alcohol and drug use, impulse control disorders, and dimensional constructs of impulsivity and obsessive-compulsiveness. ResultsA total of 294 participants (54.7% female) completed the survey and were included in the analysis. The overall frequency of probable compulsive buying disorder was 5.4% (n = 16). Compared to adults without compulsive buying disorder, those with probable compulsive buying disorder were significantly less likely to identify as heterosexual and were significantly more likely to endorse attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, drug use problems, symptoms of borderline personality disorder, binge eating disorder, and had higher levels of compulsivity plus impulsivity. ConclusionCompulsive buying disorder appears to be fairly common in adults and appears to have symptom or diagnostic overlap with obsessive-compulsive problems, addictive disorders, and impulse control disorders. Findings highlight the need for careful clinical screening to identify often overlooked comorbidities and treat them on an individual patient basis, as well as the need to conduct high-quality clinical trials for compulsive buying disorder itself and to explore its presentation longitudinally at large scale.

Assessing The Agonistic Continuum Scale as a measure of sexual sadism in a sample of community members and BDSM practitioners

Sexual sadism refers to a sexual preference for fantasies and behaviours involving the infliction of humiliation, degradation, and suffering onto others. The conceptualization of sexual sadism remains a contentious issue in the literature, with some believing sexual sadism is qualitatively distinct from other deviant sexual preferences, while others suggest it lies on a continuum of sexually aggressive behaviours. This second approach, known as the Agonistic Continuum, is a relatively novel conceptualization of sexual sadism. Its companion scale, The Agonistic Continuum Scale (TACS), was created to measure sexual sadism as a dimensional construct in both forensic and community samples. Despite several validation studies being conducted, the factor structure of the TACS has yet to be independently assessed. As such, the current study sought to assess the factorial validity and measurement invariance of the TACS in a community sample made up of primarily BDSM practitioners using a series of confirmatory factor analyses and latent profile analyses. 248 Canadian adults (65.3% females, 75.6% BDSM practitioners) completed a survey containing a demographic questionnaire and several measures of paraphilic interest including the TACS. Results of the factor analyses suggested a four-factor model provided the best fit to the data. However, incorporating sex as a multigroup analysis factor rendered this model a significantly worse fit. Further, latent profile analysis results supported the ability of the TACS to identify groups differing in sexual sadism severity but returned significantly different fit statistics across sex groups. Taken together, while the results of past studies were partially replicated, our findings call into question the appropriateness of the TACS in mixed-sex and non-community samples.

Students' Self-Regulated Learning in Physics: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)

This study aims to develop and validate an instrument that measures students' self-regulated learning in Physics. The pilot study involved 400 randomly selected Form 4 students taking Physics. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted to assess the suitability of the measurement items and to identify the construct dimensions. Three main components were identified through the EFA procedure, namely self-motivation (DP), metacognitive planning (PM), and metacognitive monitoring (PK). The field study involved 435 Form 4 students taking Physics from daily secondary schools. The study population consisted of Form 4 students from daily secondary schools across Peninsular Malaysia. The sample was selected using stratified random sampling and simple random sampling from four states: Perak, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, and Kelantan. Data from the field study were used to confirm the validity and reliability of the instrument through the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) procedure. CFA results indicated that the developed instrument is valid and reliable for measuring students' self-regulated learning. Once the measurement model was confirmed through CFA, the researchers structured these constructs into a structural model and estimated the necessary parameters using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) procedure. This study makes a significant contribution by producing a valid and reliable instrument for measuring self-regulated learning among Form 4 Physics students. This instrument can be used in future research to enhance the understanding of factors influencing students' self-regulated learning in the context of Physics education.

The effects of hope and spirituality on the work‐group mentality in the Chilean miners catastrophe

This article analyses the role that hope and spirituality play in enhancing the capacity of work teams and organisations to face extreme contexts of crisis and disasters. The study utilises Bion’s concept of sophisticated work‐group mentality to examine how these phenomena can contribute to the generation of new capabilities within the group to address the dilemmas and challenges that emerge in times of crisis. It addresses an iconic case of catastrophe–the case of the Chilean miners rescued in 2010 after surviving entrapment for almost seventy days–in order to analyse the relationships that unfold within and around the hopeful endurance of disaster. This article empirically examines the constructive dimension of basic assumptions mentalities, contrary to the predominant view in the socio‐analytic field that emphasises the regressive and disabling nature these phenomena have on the achievement of the group’s task. For this purpose, the concept of work‐group pairing (French & Simpson, 2010) is used to show the productive nature of hope on the group members’ psychic functioning. Thus, this article contributes original insights on the role of hope in the psychosocial construction of pathways for organisational recovery and resilience during and after a crisis.

How is feedback perceived by Brazilian students and faculty from a nursing school?

AimThis study aims to explore the perceptions of feedback among undergraduate students and faculty members at a Brazilian private nursing school. BackgroundFeedback plays a crucial role in the socioemotional development of learners, with its interpretation varying across different sociocultural contexts. Student evaluations frequently express dissatisfaction regarding both the quality and quantity of feedback received. Conversely, delivering feedback poses a challenge for faculty, requiring the establishment of an empathetic connection that fosters trust and credibility. Brazil, being a developing country characterized by social disparities and economic challenges, presents a unique backdrop for examining feedback dynamics. DesignQualitative research, employing Inductive Content Analysis, was used to understand feedback perceptions in Brazilian nursing education. Symbolic interactionism was adopted as methodological framework and guided data interpretation. MethodsWe carried out five virtual focus groups composed of a group of teachers (n=5) and four of students (n=34). Semi-structured interviews guided data collection. The recorded sessions were subsequently analyzed to identify key themes and codes. Symbolic interactionism was employed as a framework to derive meaning from qualitative data. ResultsContent analysis generated two categories that reveal the perception of teachers and students in the feedback process. The first, called “Feedback in Education: Sociocultural Influences for Students and Teachers”, expresses the beliefs and interpretations of students and teachers within the shared feedback environment. The second called “Challenging resonance, transformative construction: Navigating the dualities of feedback for teachers and students”, which elucidated how relational dynamics shape behaviors and attitudes, promoting the development of social skills and learning. Faculty's previous feedback experiences significantly influence their self-perception and behavior with students. As a result of the resonance of these past interactions, we recognize that the teaching self also plays a crucial role in the quality and perception of feedback. Furthermore, students construct social reality with similar beliefs and values, they believe in the learning potential generated by feedback. Our findings also corroborate that perceptions of feedback are deeply influenced by the sociocultural context and the narratives corroborate previous findings indicating that, in Brazil, honest feedback can be implicitly perceived as criticism rather than an opportunity for growth. ConclusionsFaculty members often draw on their past experiences when providing feedback, highlighting the adaptive nature of feedback interactions. Additionally, the feedback process is consistently influenced by the commitment to maintaining positive relationships with students. Students recognize the constructive dimension of feedback as a valuable tool for learning and personal growth.

El cuerpo vestido como construcción de identidades latinoamericanas a partir de lo monstruoso. Un enfoque decolonial para la enseñanza de la moda

This research analyzes and questions fashion and its respective teaching from a colonial matrix, constantly constructed from the body as a place of use, representation and construction of fashion and its imaginaries. In this way, learning exercises in fashion are traditionally based on the recognition of the anatomical-ergonomic of the body in direct relation to the needs of the hegemonic industry, which imposes its narratives and canons. Thanks to the decolonial foundation of the Professional Program in Fashion of the Universidad Santo Tomás and through its modular project, the approach to the body is proposed from the monstrous as a place of the possibilities of creation, which allows exploring other dimensions of representation and body construction. Derived from the above, eight projects are developed conceptually and materially in the period 2024-1 as part of Module 1: design and identities that covers the first and second semester of the course, where it is built, based on the reflections on identity, a narrative that challenges and deconstructs the hegemonic imaginaries that fashion has imposed on certain corporealities and corporealities. This in order to broaden the spectrum of fashion to a plurality of representations and that first semester students at the beginning of their specific training in fashion, led from the costume and clothing workshop I, are able to propose from the problematization and exploration of historically marginalized imaginaries.

Has Digital Village Construction Narrowed the Urban–Rural Income Gap: Evidence from Chinese Counties

Can the backward endowments of rural areas support digital village construction to attain the expected results? If the answer is yes, what are the mechanisms involved? Answering these questions is related to common prosperity. Counties are China’s frontline commanders, and the urban–rural income gap is a suitable entry point for observing the urban–rural digital divide; however, there is limited research assessing the effectiveness of digital village construction from the perspective of the urban–rural income gap at the county level. In addition, counties lifted out of poverty, as counties with worse initial endowments and as counties that should be most concerned with common wealth, are more typical for examining the effectiveness of digital rural construction; however, there are few studies on counties lifted out of poverty. Based on cross-sectional data from 865 counties in China in 2020, this study empirically analyzes the impact of digital village construction on the urban–rural income gap using an OLS model. This study also conducts mechanism tests and poverty benefit tests in addition to heterogeneity and robustness tests. The findings indicate that the development of digital villages lowers the income difference between urban and rural areas, and that the shift in the industrial structure is a key driver of this effect. Different construction dimensions have varying degrees of impact, with digital infrastructure and the digitalization of the economy having the most significant impact, the digitalization of countryside governance coming second, and the digitalization of countryside life having the most negligible impact. The impact is more pronounced in the central-eastern region of China and counties that have just been lifted out of poverty than in the western region and counties that have never been in poverty. The government will benefit greatly from this study’s understanding of the main themes, areas, and scope of digital rural construction, which will help to expand and further integrate the outcomes of reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity.

Exploring Market Credit Evaluation System of Tourism Enterprises from Tourist Perspective

ABSTRACT This study employs literature review and expert consultation methods to construct dimensions and items for evaluating the market credit of tourism enterprises from tourist perspective. A Hierarchical Analysis Method was used to develop the market credit evaluation system for tourism enterprises. The research findings indicate that the evaluation system comprises 7 dimensions and 37 items, which include: credit capacity, credit regulation, credit foundation, credit behavior, economic credit, employee credit, and integrity culture. The Hierarchical Analysis Method was applied to determine the weight for these dimensions and items. The credit foundation of tourism enterprises was found to have the highest weight, followed by credit regulation, credit capacity, credit behavior, economic credit, employee credit, and integrity culture. Theoretically, this research enriches the theory of tourism enterprise credit and provides a measurement tool for evaluating market credit. Practically, it offers targeted suggestions and strategies for tourism enterprises to enhance their market credit.

Taking the City as the Medium: Research on the Construction and Dissemination of City Image from the Perspective of 'Media Event'Taking Harbin Traffic Progression as an Example

In the era of media convergence, the dissemination of city images has gradually entered the stage of mobile Internet visual dominance with short video as the main carrier and focusing on urban life. Local mainstream media actively participate in it and play a key guiding role in media events. At the end of 2023, the content of Harbin Ice and Snow Cultural Tourism in the short video platform exploded, making Harbin one of the well-known tourist destinations at home and abroad. Harbin extends the traditional way of expressing the city image of " taking the city as the medium, " with " media event " as the core, supplemented by the sincere hospitality method of " Scene-Topic-Empathy" which enriches the narrative paradigm and discourse system related to the construction and dissemination of the city image, and explores an effective way to promote the internationalization of the city in the era of media integration. This paper takes the event of Harbin cultural and tourism industrys rise to fame as an example. From the perspective of media events, taking the timeline as the axis, it explores how media events can further promote the traffic progression of Harbin city IP from the three dimensions of image construction, brand communication and value shaping, to move towards the international stage.

Difference in Rumor Dissemination and Debunking Before and After the Relaxation of COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures in China: Infodemiology Study.

The information epidemic emerged along with the COVID-19 pandemic. While controlling the spread of COVID-19, the secondary harm of epidemic rumors to social order cannot be ignored. The objective of this paper was to understand the characteristics of rumor dissemination before and after the pandemic and the corresponding rumor management and debunking mechanisms. This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis and effective methods for relevant departments to establish a sound mechanism for managing network rumors related to public health emergencies such as COVID-19. This study collected data sets of epidemic rumors before and after the relaxation of the epidemic prevention and control measures, focusing on large-scale network rumors. Starting from 3 dimensions of rumor content construction, rumor propagation, and rumor-refuting response, the epidemic rumors were subdivided into 7 categories, namely, involved subjects, communication content, emotional expression, communication channels, communication forms, rumor-refuting subjects, and verification sources. Based on this framework, content coding and statistical analysis of epidemic rumors were carried out. The study found that the rumor information was primarily directed at a clear target audience. The main themes of rumor dissemination were related to the public's immediate interests in the COVID-19 field, with significant differences in emotional expression and mostly negative emotions. Rumors mostly spread through social media interactions, community dissemination, and circle dissemination, with text content as the main form, but they lack factual evidence. The preferences of debunking subjects showed differences, and the frequent occurrence of rumors reflected the unsmooth channels of debunking. The χ2 test of data before and after the pandemic showed that the P value was less than .05, indicating that the difference in rumor content before and after the pandemic had statistical significance. This study's results showed that the themes of rumors during the pandemic are closely related to the immediate interests of the public, and the emotions of the public accelerate the spread of these rumors, which are mostly disseminated through social networks. Therefore, to more effectively prevent and control the spread of rumors during the pandemic and to enhance the capability to respond to public health crises, relevant authorities should strengthen communication with the public, conduct emotional risk assessments, and establish a joint mechanism for debunking rumors.

A scoping review of green Internet of Things in construction and smart cities: current applications, adoption strategies and future directions

PurposeContemporary technological disruptions are espoused as though they stimulate sustainable growth in the built environment through the Green Internet of Things (G-IoT). Learning from discipline-specific experiences, this paper articulates recent advancements in the knowledge and concepts of G-IoT in relation to the construction and smart city sectors. It provides a scoping review for G-IoT as an overlooked dimension. Attention was paid to modern circularity, cleaner production and sustainability as key benefits of G-IoT adoption in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). In addition, this study also investigates the current application and adoption strategies of G-IoT.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) review approach. Resources are drawn from Scopus and Web of Science repositories using apt search strings that reflect applications of G-IoT in the built environment in relation to construction management, urban planning, societies and infrastructure. Thematic analysis was used to analyze pertinent themes in the retrieved articles.FindingsG-IoT is an overlooked dimension in construction and smart cities so far. Thirty-three scholarly articles were reviewed from a total of 82 articles retrieved, from which five themes were identified: G-IoT in buildings, computing, sustainability, waste management and tracking and monitoring. Among other applications, findings show that G-IoT is prominent in smart urban services, healthcare, traffic management, green computing, environmental protection, site safety and waste management. Applicable strategies to hasten adoption include raising awareness, financial incentives, dedicated work approaches, G-IoT technologies and purposeful capacity building among stakeholders. The future of G-IoT in construction and smart city research is in smart drones, building information modeling, digital twins, 3D printing, green computing, robotics and policies that incentivize adoption.Originality/valueThis study adds to the normative literature on envisioning potential strategies for adoption and the future of G-IoT in construction and smart cities as an overlooked dimension. No previous study to date has reviewed pertinent literature in this area, intending to investigate the current applications, adoption strategies and future direction of G-IoT in construction and smart cities. Researchers can expand on the current study by exploring the identified G-IoT applications and adoption strategies in detail, and practitioners can develop implementation policies, regulations and guidelines for holistic G-IoT adoption.

Evaluating the Impact of Internet Users' Emotional Tendencies on Opinion Dynamics through Computer-Assisted Sentiment Analysis of Texts

- Internet communication is characterised by "non-linear flow" and "unorganised aggregation," and computer-assisted text sentiment analysis is an important means of evaluating the impact of netizens' emotions on the dynamics of public opinion. The uncertainty, anonymity, disorder, and blindness inherent in fast-gathering and fast-dispersing Internet communication drive the continuous generation of texts, which has an important impact on public opinion. In order to study this issue in depth, this paper chooses two text types of "popular Weibo" and "popular topics" in Sina Weibo as the object of study and analyses the issue in detail from the two dimensions of agenda construction and agenda setting. In the process of the study, the required text data were collected through Python, and the theoretical assumptions were verified with text analysis methods to explore the influence of text sentiment bias on opinion diffusion, with a view to providing new insights and references for the application of the theory of opinion diffusion and the field of computational diffusion.

E-satisfaction as a mediator between consumer loyalty and E-CRM: The context of Lebanese e-commerce

This article’s purpose is to assess the influence of E-CRM on consumer loyalty through satisfaction. Electronic customer relationship management E-CRM is a marketing tool used to manage consumer loyalty. However, the adoption of outdated E-CRM strategies increases dissatisfaction and attrition rates. That is, to assess the effect of perceived quality online, online customization, and customer trust on loyalty from online shoppers’ perspectives. This quantitative explanatory study begins with an exploratory factor analysis to simplify the concept’s dimensions. A questionnaire was distributed to a sample of Lebanese customers as a measurement instrument. Data analysis used factor analysis, followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using a structural model,and later regression. EFA is a fundamental prerequisite to CFA. Then, principal factor analysis (PCA) verified items for each construct dimension. The removal of items with low contributions improved the value of the KMO test, variance explained, and internal reliability measured with Cronbach’s alpha, which increased to 0.865. PCA extracted factors by restoring a minimum of 50% of the variance. The CFA relies on normed indices, sustaining the adjustment of the theoretical structure. Absolute fit criteria are highlighted: the RMSEA, GFI, and AGFI. Findings supported the idea that E-CRM strategies concentrating on online service quality, online presence, customization, and customer trust develop e-satisfaction and loyalty. Effective E-CRM satisfies customers and increases their e-satisfaction, leading to higher levels of loyalty. These outcomes increase awareness about the strategic value of E-CRM to businesses, and the paper serves as an eye-opener for future researchers and marketing experts.

Sidestepping Class: A Marxist Critique of Race Formation Theory

ABSTRACT This article critically examines the racial formation theory proposed by Omi and Winant from a Marxist perspective. It contends that the theory overlooks the class dimension of the social construction of race and the dynamics of racial formation in the United States. The article traces the historical role of class in the process of racial formation and shows how race and racism are linked to the evolution of capitalism in American society. It argues that the colonial ruling class created race and used racism as a tool to fragment the labouring class along racial and ethnic lines, preventing them from uniting against the colonial capitalist system. The invention of race set the stage for the persistence and reinforcement of race formation and racism by the subsequent American ruling class from post-independence to the present day. This article also challenges the idea of a racial state and asserts that it is a false concept that fails to capture the reality of racism and its solutions. It concludes that the theory is inadequate, biased, and ineffective in addressing and resolving the issues of race and racism in the social and everyday lives of the oppressed minorities in the United States.

Exploratory factor analysis-instrument for self-assessment of computation thinking skills and collaboration skills

This study focuses on developing and validating instruments to assess the computational thinking skills (CTS) and collaboration skills (CS) of undergraduate students in Indonesia. Employing a quantitative research approach with the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) technique, the research process unfolded in three validation steps. First, face validity was established through expert judgment. Second, discriminant validity was examined using product-moment correlations and Cronbach’s alpha. Finally, EFA were employed to assess the factorial structure. The instrument development process followed five phases: drafting the instrument, face validity assessment by experts, data collection involving 242 undergraduate students as samples, discriminant validity analysis (product moment and Cronbach’s alpha), and EFA analysis to group items and construct dimensions. This study identified six dimensions for CTS (algorithmic thinking, cooperative thinking, problem reformulation, creativity, critical thinking, and systematic testing) and three dimensions for CS (knowledge sharing, planning, and responsibility). These findings support validating the CTS and CS self-assessment scale, making it a valuable tool for evaluating undergraduate student learning and researching computational thinking and CS in Indonesia. Researchers and educators are encouraged to utilize the CTS and CS instrument for self-assessment purposes and further exploration of these competencies among undergraduate students.

A Literature Review on the Identity Construction of the Simulacra Subject in Jean Genet’s The Balcony

Jean Genet's The Balcony explores the fundamental elements of subject identity construction and identification within a framework of double paradoxes. The reconfigurations of simulacra activities challenge the traditional political model of theater, redefining the nature and expression of the subject's identity and endowing theatrical representation with political potential. The subject of simulacra exists in a constant state of internal and external constitutive difference, emphasizing the essential incompleteness and antagonistic dimension of identity construction, which resonates with the political realm. The dual nature of the other renders the construction of the subject's identity an insurmountable task, while the perpetual opposition of the dual relationship converges into tertiary natures, exposing the failure point of impossibility and necessity in subject identity construction. The trinity mode of the subject continually replaces power relationships through negation, engendering space for reflection. This paper employs Deleuze's theory of in-itself difference and Mouffe and Laclau's theory of antagonism and hegemony to analyze the foundational structural strategy of subject identity construction and identification in The Balcony. It elucidates how this strategy establishes the necessary conditions for the autonomy of politics within Genet Theatre.

Positioning antagonistic discourses in the (de)bounded spaces of power

Abstract Scholarship has underlined how radical right-wing populism (RRWP) emphasizes border control aiming to protect the “people”. Although increasing attention is being paid to the discursive dimensions of border construction, the complexity of the phenomenon suggests the need for further analysis in an interdisciplinary perspective and with an emphasis on the geometry of spatial powers (Massey 1999, 2005). Understanding power dynamics in space is all the more important now that radical right-wing populism (RRWP) is becoming a key political phenomenon. The use of the border in right-wing populist narratives draws on the representation of power struggles in space concerning the management of flows (people, goods, services, capital, ideas, values, etc.). The scope of the introduction to this special issue is to address the connection between radical right-wing populism, borders, and spaces of power, and to present the research articles investigating this link through a series of different case studies.

Resting-state amygdala subregion and precuneus connectivity provide evidence for a dimensional approach to studying social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and disabling mental health condition, characterized by excessive fear and anxiety in social situations. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms have been increasingly used to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of SAD in the absence of threat-related stimuli. Previous studies have primarily focused on the role of the amygdala in SAD. However, the amygdala consists of functionally and structurally distinct subregions, and recent studies have highlighted the importance of investigating the role of these subregions independently. Using multiband fMRI, we analyzed resting-state data from 135 participants (42 SAD, 93 healthy controls). By employing voxel-wise permutation testing, we examined group differences of fMRI connectivity and associations between fMRI connectivity and social anxiety symptoms to further investigate the classification of SAD as a categorical or dimensional construct. Seed-to-whole brain functional connectivity analysis using multiple ‘seeds’ including the amygdala and its subregions and the precuneus, revealed no statistically significant group differences. However, social anxiety severity was significantly negatively correlated with functional connectivity of the precuneus - perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and positively correlated with functional connectivity of the amygdala (specifically the superficial subregion) - parietal/cerebellar areas. Our findings demonstrate clear links between symptomatology and brain connectivity in the absence of diagnostic differences, with evidence of amygdala subregion-specific alterations. The observed brain-symptom associations did not include disturbances in the brain’s fear circuitry (i.e., disturbances in connectivity between amygdala - prefrontal regions) likely due to the absence of threat-related stimuli.