Maladaptive Beliefs Research Articles

The Revised Pathogenic Beliefs Scale: A Transtheoretical Measure of Maladaptive Beliefs That Are Associated with Psychological Distress

Pathogenic beliefs are maladaptive cognitive schema that may obstruct a person’s ability to achieve meaningful goals in their life. This study sought to revise a previously existing measure of pathogenic beliefs (the Pathogenic Beliefs Scale) by improving the quality of items and separating the ratings of the presence of a pathogenic belief from the distress associated with it. In Study 1 (n = 272), we used item-response theory to identify 21 items from an initial pool of 44 items. In Study 2 (n = 422), we tested the items from Study 1 using confirmatory factor analysis. Study 3 used the combined samples from Study 1 and Study 2 (total n = 528) to compare the revised measure to the Experiences in Close Relationships and the Measure of Parental Style. Results indicate that the revised 21-item PBS has good reliability and convergent validity with related measures, consistent with previous studies of the longer version of the PBS. The 21-item revised PBS is included as supplemental material, and freely available to clinicians and researchers.

Struggling at School: Are Exposure to Television's Eurocentric Appearance Norms and Objectified Body Consciousness Associated Factors?

Theoretical work on objectified body consciousness, comprised of body surveillance and body shame, proposes several negative sequelae of holding an objectified view of the self (i.e., valuing the body primarily for its attractiveness to others). Few studies have examined associations between objectified body consciousness and academic beliefs and strategies among adolescent girls, especially girls of color. In the present study, we investigated a conceptual model whereby exposure to Eurocentric appearance norms through TV consumption is related to body surveillance and body shame which, in turn, are related to academic beliefs and strategies among a racially diverse sample of United States girls. Participants were 650 self-identified Asian American/Pacific Islander, Black, and White adolescent girls ( Mage = 15.45, SDage = 1.50). Higher Eurocentric appearance norms exposure was associated with higher body shame which, in turn, was associated with maladaptive academic beliefs and strategies for all three groups of girls. In contrast, higher Eurocentric appearance norms exposure was associated with higher body surveillance and just one academic belief, and in White girls only. Future work should continue to examine these associations among adolescent girls of color. In addition, we encourage educators to include body image content in media literacy curricula as a means of disrupting associations between Eurocentric appearance norms, body shame, and academic functioning.

Patient and Provider Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators to the Acceptance of Pain Neuroscience Education in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions: A Qualitative Systematic Review Protocol

Objective: To identify and map barriers and facilitators to the acceptance of pain neuroscience education for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions. Introduction: Pain neuroscience education aims to reconceptualize the understanding of the biology of pain. This includes the acknowledgment of physiological and psychological processes relevant to pain experiences to ultimately change maladaptive beliefs and behaviors. Pain neuroscience education in chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions has been demonstrated to positively influence relevant treatment outcomes. Inclusion criteria: Only qualitative studies will be included. The population will include patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and healthcare providers involved in pain management. The phenomenon of interest encompasses educational interventions on the biology and psychology of pain, which aim to reconceptualize patients’ understanding of pain. Methods: A comprehensive search strategy will be conducted on MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, PsycInfo, and CINHAL. Two reviewers will independently conduct the study selection process, critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis. Discrepancies will be resolved by a third reviewer. The assessment of methodological quality will be guided by JBI’s critical appraisal checklist for qualitative research. Qualitative data synthesis will follow the JBI SUMARI meta-aggregation approach. Considerations of the certainty in the results will be reported in accordance with a ConQual Summary of Findings.

The relationship between maladaptive health beliefs, pandemic-related stress, and health anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research has demonstrated that people experience specific distress and anxiety regarding COVID-19. This distress may consist of interconnected symptom categories corresponding to a COVID stress syndrome. Susceptibility to COVID stress syndrome may be related to one's maladaptive health beliefs; however, no research has investigated the association between maladaptive health beliefs and COVID stress. The present study explored the impact of health beliefs on COVID stress, health anxiety, and associated psychological constructs. This cross-sectional survey study included 221 adults (M age = 20.59, SD = 2.28). Participants completed an online survey including demographic questionnaires and self-report measures of health beliefs, COVID stress, health anxiety, and related psychological constructs. Health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, state/trait anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and depression accounted for significant variance in COVID stress (F(6, 214) = 11.18, R2 = .24, p < .001). Health beliefs (i.e., perceived likelihood of illness, medical service inadequacy, and difficulty coping) were associated with greater COVID stress, although health beliefs were not found to mediate the relationship between health anxiety and COVID stress. Health beliefs were associated with greater COVID stress, although health beliefs did not mediate the relationship between health anxiety and COVID stress. The relationship between health anxiety and COVID stress may be better explained by other COVID-related cognitions (e.g., vaccine efficacy, dangerousness of COVID-19). The findings highlight the importance of peoples' health beliefs during the pandemic. Given anxiety's influence on peoples' behavioural responses to the pandemic, further research should identify COVID-specific cognitions for prevention of COVID stress and health anxiety.

Perspective of The Psychological Assessment Team on Factors Influencing Parental Acceptance of Students with Disabilities

This study aimed to explore the perspective of the psychological assessment team on the factors influencing parental acceptance of students with disabilities. A qualitative design was used through a case study, with data gathered through in-depth interviews comprising four key participants, specifically two Psychologists and two Psychological Counsellors at Rumah Duta Revolusi Mental. The findings showed seven factors that either support or prevent parental acceptance of students with disabilities. The supporting elements include Knowledge, a Proactive and Open Attitude, Social Support, Financial Assistance and Capability, Availability of Facilities and Service Access, Experience, and Spirituality. Conversely, the preventing factors comprise Negative Stigma, Anxiety, Lack of Knowledge/Literacy, Maladaptive Beliefs, Negative Experience with Prior Services, Limited Financial Resources, and Limited Access and Infrastructure. Based on these findings, the study recommends that Semarang City should actively develop innovative policies to enhance parental acceptance of students with disabilities, addressing the identified factors comprehensively.

Experience sampling methodology study of anxiety and depression in adolescents with epilepsy: The role of metacognitive beliefs and perseverative thinking

Emotional distress is common in young people with epilepsy (YPwE). According to the Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model, maladaptive metacognitive beliefs and perseverative thinking are fundamental in the development and maintenance of emotional distress. As emotional distress and perseverative thinking can highly fluctuate over short intervals in YPwE, it is important to account for this variability when testing the utility of psychological models. Experience sampling methodology (ESM) was therefore used to explore the momentary relationship between metacognitive beliefs, perseverative thinking, and emotional distress in YPwE. Eighteen participants diagnosed with epilepsy (aged 12–17 years) completed the 10-day ESM period. Participants were prompted to complete the ESM assessment five times daily. The ESM assessment assessed participant’s momentary levels of metacognitive beliefs, perseverative thinking (i.e., worry and rumination), and emotional distress (i.e., anxiety and depression). A series of multilevel regression analyses indicated that metacognitive beliefs were significantly positively associated with worry, rumination, anxiety and depression. After controlling for worry and rumination, respectively, metacognitive beliefs did not account for additional variance in anxiety or depression. Findings provide preliminary support for the utility of the S-REF model for emotional distress in YPwE. Metacognitive therapy, which is underpinned by the S-REF model, may be an appropriate intervention for emotional distress in YPwE. Future studies should assess the mediational relationship between metacognitive beliefs, perseverative thinking, and emotional distress using time-lagged models.

Psychometric Evaluation of a Persian Version of Beliefs about Emotions Scale in Community and Clinical Samples.

Objective: This research is primarily conducted to determine the psychometric properties of the Beliefs about Emotions Scale (BES) in community and clinical samples. The BES is a scale measure used for evaluating individuals' beliefs in terms of how acceptable it is for them to experience and express their emotions. Method : This study was conducted on two separate samples. In the first part, 300 individuals were selected from a general sample in Tehran using the quota sampling method. For the second part of the study, we used purposive sampling to gather data from 119 patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and 121 patients from Somatic Symptoms Disorder (SSD), whose disorders were diagnosed based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The BES structural validity was examined through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Additionally, test-retest composite and internal consistency indices were explored to investigate the reliability of the BES score. Finally, the associations of the BES score with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ), Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) scores were highlighted to investigate the discriminant and convergent validity of the BES score. Results: According to CFAs, the one-factor model for the BES demonstrated a good fit with the data collected from both the clinical and community samples. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was satisfactory in the community sample (α = 0.84) and the clinical samples of SSD (α = 0.86) and MDD (α = 0.83). The community sample demonstrated high overall test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93, P < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.89 - 0.95). In terms of convergent validity, the findings confirmed that in the MMD sample, there was a significant relationship between the BES and almost all measures (including Depression (r = 0.39, P < 0.01), Anxiety (r = 0.21, P < 0.05), Self-Sacrifice (r = 0.27, P < 0.01), MPS-total score (r = 0.22, P < 0.05), DERS total score (r = 0.50, P < 0.01), and Suppression (r = 0.38, P < 0.01). However, in the SSD group, this finding was not found. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that the Persian BES is a reliable and valid scale of maladaptive beliefs about emotions which could be implemented for both clinical and research aims.

Brief observable anxiety sensitivity treatment: intervention development and a pilot randomized-controlled acceptability and feasibility trial to evaluate a brief intervention for anxiety sensitivity social concerns

ABSTRACT Social anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders. There is a need to develop brief, virtual, single-session interventions targeting constructs associated with social anxiety, such as anxiety sensitivity social concerns (ASSC). ASSC is the maladaptive belief about consequences arising from observable symptoms of anxious arousal. This study was designed to evaluate the initial acceptability and feasibility of a brief ASSC reduction program (Brief Observable Anxiety Sensitivity Treatment [BOAST]) which included a single clinician-led intervention session followed by a two-week ecological momentary intervention (EMI), delivered via mobile app. Participants (N = 36) were adults with elevated ASSC who were randomly assigned to receive BOAST (n = 19) or a waitlist control (n = 17). The trial was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04859790). Results supported the acceptability of BOAST with mixed findings for feasibility. Feasibility metrics for the EMI component were below pre-defined thresholds; however, there was evidence that homework completion was associated with symptom reduction. Preliminary efficacy metrics indicated that participants in the BOAST condition had large reductions in ASSC and one measure of social anxiety at 1-month follow-up. This study provides preliminary support for the acceptability of BOAST and elucidates avenues for future clinical and research efforts.

French Validation of Two Questionnaires Measuring Posttraumatic Cognitions After Sexual Assault

ABSTRACT People who have been sexually assaulted are at risk of developing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including negative posttraumatic cognitions such as self-blame. Although targeting maladaptive cognitions is an important part of cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD, no validated questionnaire targeting posttraumatic cognitions after a sexual assault is available in French. The aim of this study was to translate the Posttraumatic Maladaptive Beliefs Scale (PMBS) and the Rape Attribution Questionnaire (RAQ) in French, adapt the content of the latter to make it more inclusive of all genders and widen the representation of sexual assault contexts, and document their psychometric qualities in the general population who self-reported having experienced a sexual assault. Participants were 439 adults recruited via e-mails to the members of the Laval University community and postings on social media. They completed online sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires, including the PMBS, the RAQ and four questionnaires targeting PTSD symptom severity, posttraumatic cognitions, depression, and anxiety symptoms. The PMBS and the RAQ were completed a second time one week later. The French versions of the questionnaires showed good convergent and divergent validity, internal consistency (PMBS: α between .740 and .868; RAQ: .806 and .901) and test-retest reliability (r between .785 and .833 for the PMBS, .776 and .840 for the RAQ). The French versions of the PMBS and the RAQ are useful instruments to assess posttraumatic cognitions and can be used in clinical and research settings to improve the treatment of PTSD in people who have been sexually assaulted.

Maladaptive Beliefs and Antisocial Behavior in Young Adults: What Relationship?

Maladaptive Beliefs and Antisocial Behavior in Young Adults: What Relationship?

The Intersection of Insomnia Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder: A Clinical Perspective

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with profound sleep architectural alterations including reduced slow wave activity, increased delta sleep ratio, REM sleep disinhibition, shortened REM onset latency, and increased REM density. Antidepressants, though mitigating depressive symptoms, often disrupt sleep patterns, highlighting the delicate balance between treatment benefits and sleep-related impacts. Comprehensive assessment and management of insomnia is pivotal due to its significant implications for effective clinical management and treatment outcomes in MDD. Nonpharmacological treatments, notably cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi), and digital CBTi (dCBTi) should be considered. CBTi unravels maladaptive sleep beliefs and behaviors, yielding improvements in both insomnia and MDD symptoms. Digital CBTi platforms extend accessibility, offering potential relief to a broader demographic. Sedating antidepressants, nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics, and atypical antipsychotics address insomnia within MDD, with cautious consideration for side effects. A combination of pharmacotherapy with CBTi might yield augmented outcomes in patients with MDD and comorbid insomnia. Ketamine, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS) explore novel dimensions in treating treatment-resistant depression, potentially influencing sleep disruptions. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2023;53(11):502–507.]

A randomized clinical trial of a gamified app for the treatment of perfectionism.

Perfectionism is a common transdiagnostic problem that may lead to substantial distress and functional impairments. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for perfectionism. However, the existing significant barriers to access and utilization of mental health services, including among college students, demand the development of low-intensity accessible interventions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a low-intensity CBT-based self-help gamified app developed specifically for perfectionism in a sample of college students. Participants completed assessments of perfectionism, related symptoms, emotional burden and functional impairments at pretreatment, posttreatment and at one-month follow-up. Compared with the waitlist condition (n = 35), the app condition (n = 35) demonstrated a significant and greater reduction in perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, functional impairments and subjective ratings of emotional burden. Results suggest that a brief, daily app-based game-like intervention targeting maladaptive perfectionistic beliefs may be a viable, low-cost alternative to traditional CBT treatments for vulnerable populations on college campuses.

Symptoms of sexuality-related disorders in the group of overweight and obese women.

The aim of the study was to assess the presence of symptoms of sexuality-related disorders (S-RD) in a group of overweight and obese women and the relationship of these symptoms with maladaptive attitudes and beliefs about food, the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, difficulties in emotional regulation, and the general quality of life. The study group (SG) consisted of 44 overweight/obese women, the control group (CG) consisted of 51 women with normal body weight, all aged 18-40 years. The following were used: Sexological Questionnaire, Eating Attitude Test, Eating Beliefs Questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Quality of Life Questionnaire. SG showed more severe S-RD symptoms, including sexual dysfunctions and sexual preferences disorders, as compared to CG. In the SG there were more significant correlations between S-RD and the studied variables, especially in the area of difficulties with emotional regulation. Negative and permissive dietary beliefs were significant for S-RD in SG, while positive beliefs were significant in CG. Additionally, the number of S-RD symptoms predicted the quality of life. e results indicate a relationship between excessive body weight and greater severity of S-RD symptoms, as well as a relationship between the symptoms of S-RD with clinical variables and with the quality of life. Further research exploring the mechanisms of the observed relationships is necessary.

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Use of Adaptive and Maladaptive Coping Strategies

ABSTRACT Objectives Chronic stress is associated with a variety of negative outcomes for farmers in the United States (U.S) and worldwide, who face near-constant exposure to internal (e.g. family conflict) and external (e.g. weather) stressors. Research indicates that farmers’ stress may be reduced by engaging in adaptive coping strategies and avoiding maladaptive coping strategies. However, little is known about what predicts their coping strategy use. Informed by the transactional theory of stress and coping, the present manuscript seeks to identify factors associated with U.S. farmers’ use of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. Methods U.S. farmers (N = 135) completed survey assessments of factors theorized to be associated with coping strategy choice (maladaptive beliefs about farm stress management, farm stress management self-efficacy, age, and sex) as well as measures of adaptive and maladaptive coping. Results Farm stress management self-efficacy was a significant, positive predictor of adaptive coping, and maladaptive beliefs about farm stress management were a significant, positive predictor of maladaptive coping. Maladaptive beliefs about farm stress management and farm stress management self-efficacy interacted to predict maladaptive coping, such that the positive relationship between maladaptive beliefs about farm stress management and maladaptive coping was significant at higher levels of self-efficacy. Sex was unrelated to coping strategies, and age was negatively associated with maladaptive coping strategies but unassociated with adaptive coping strategies. Conclusion The findings point to the utility of increasing farm stress self-management self-efficacy to increase farmers’ adaptive coping and reducing maladaptive beliefs about farm stress management to reduce maladaptive coping. Efforts to promote adaptive coping by increasing self-efficacy should also target maladaptive beliefs farmers hold toward stress management, because increasing self-efficacy may also increase the likelihood of maladaptive coping when maladaptive beliefs are present.

Cognitive-Affective Risk Factors of Female Intimate Partner Violence Victimization: The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Strategic Emotional Intelligence.

(1) Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive and destructive phenomenon. There is a need for an integrated and comprehensive approach to IPV in order to align prevention, support and treatment. Still little is known about the cognitive and affective markers of IPV that are modifiable. Such knowledge, therefore, can support the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs. In this study, we put forward a hypothesis that, after accounting for the influence of sociodemographic variables, the domains of early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and strategic emotional intelligence would provide additional information for predicting female IPV victimization. (2) Methods: 48 female survivors of IPV and 48 age-matched women with no prior experience of IPV completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3 (YSQ-SF3) and The Emotional Understanding Test (TRE). (3) Results: The domains of disconnection and rejection and impaired limits were significant predictors of IPV victimization, but the results did not support the predictive value for impaired autonomy, other-directedness and strategic emotional intelligence. (4) Conclusions: Our findings add to the emerging evidence of a link between disconnection and rejection domain and IPV victimization. As a consequence, maladaptive beliefs that interpersonal relationships are unstable and insecure and expose to the risk of humiliation and harm, and that basic emotional needs cannot be satisfied in close relationships, are associated with a higher risk of intimate partner violence. In this context, schema therapy appears to be a promising support for IPV victims.

Teachers’ Beliefs and Their Influence on Math Instructions for Gifted English Learners

The dynamic interplay between teachers’ beliefs and practices significantly impact the quality of instruction and the trajectory of talent development in young students. This case study explores the beliefs and practices of two elementary teachers instructing gifted ELs in mathematics. The constant comparison method was used to analyze data collected from classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and field notes. Three factors were found to affect the (in)consistency between teachers’ expressed beliefs and observed practices: compatibility among core and peripheral beliefs, knowledge about evidence-based practices, and classroom management skills. Students exhibit higher levels of participation, communication, and engagement in critical thinking skills when their teacher embraces constructive perspectives in teaching mathematics, demonstrates pedagogical expertise, and employs a proactive classroom management approach. Conversely, students encounter restricted opportunities to independently construct their own understanding of mathematics when their teacher holds maladaptive beliefs about teaching mathematics, has limited knowledge of evidence-based practices, and has an authoritarian classroom management style. These findings underscore the need for a new approach to professional development (PD) that encourages teachers to critically examine the connection between their beliefs and instructional practices and their impact on the student’s mathematical talent development.

Psychological Factors Linked to Intimate Partner Violence and Childhood Maltreatment: On Dissociation as a Possible Bridge Symptom.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health concern, occurring worldwide in various forms and settings. Over the past years, multiple sources reported an increase of IPV globally, partly related to COVID-19 restrictions. Childhood maltreatment enhances the risk of IPV, possibly via alterations in emotion regulation, attachment, maladaptive core beliefs, dissociation, and psychopathological symptoms. However, studies investigating these associations simultaneously are still needed. This study aimed to investigate association between IPV, childhood maltreatment severity, maladaptive schemata (mistrust, alienation, enmeshment), attachment anxiety, social support, emotion regulation, dissociation, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms. We further explored the complex interplay of all factors, accounting for their shared associations. An anonymous online survey was posted on international online platforms for people experiencing domestic violence and on research platforms. Regression analyses and graph-theoretical network analysis were used to explore associations between all variables. N = 434 participants (40% in treatment) completed the survey. IPV perpetration and victimization were highly correlated. Both were significantly associated with childhood maltreatment severity, early maladaptive schemata, dissociation, BPD features, and PTSD symptoms. When including all variables in one model, IPV was associated with dissociation, which indirectly linked it to childhood maltreatment experiences, PTSD symptoms, withdrawal, and self-blame. Our findings suggest that IPV perpetration and victimization often co-occur. Dissociation may be an important bridge symptom, linking IPV to childhood maltreatment experiences, PTSD symptoms, and maladaptive coping. Prospective studies are needed to corroborate these findings and to establish psychological mechanisms underlying IPV.

Metacognitive beliefs and anxiety symptoms could serve as mediators between fear of missing out and gaming disorder in adolescents

Given the vulnerability to and prevalence of emotional problems and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in adolescents, this study aimed to test the effects of fear of missing out (FoMO) on IGD and the mediating roles of metacognitive beliefs and anxiety symptoms based on the self-regulatory executive function (S-REF) model. At a Chinese high school, 283 participants (Mage = 16.89 years old; girls = 42.0%) with past-year gaming experience voluntarily completed an anonymous paper-and-pencil questionnaire. FoMO showed significant, positive associations with IGD, anxiety symptoms, and metacognitive beliefs. Results of path analysis showed a significant direct effect of FoMO on IGD, whereas anxiety symptoms mediated the relationship between FoMO and IGD. The indirect effects of FoMO on IGD via serial mediations of three negative metacognitive beliefs (i.e., negative beliefs about worry, low cognitive confidence, and beliefs regarding need for control) and anxiety symptoms were also statistically significant. These findings demonstrated that maladaptive metacognitive beliefs and anxiety are risk-enhancing mediators in the relationship between FoMO and IGD. Therefore, metacognitive therapy, particularly for regulating those three specific significant metacognitive beliefs, is recommended for treating IGD and anxiety, especially for those with higher levels of FoMO.

From basic science to clinical practice: Can cognitive behavioural therapy tasks be augmented with enhanced episodic specificity?

Individuals with depression typically remember their past in a generalised manner, at the cost of retrieving specific event memories. This may impair engagement with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) tasks that use concrete episodic information to challenge maladaptive beliefs, potentially limiting their therapeutic benefit. Study 1 demonstrated that an episodic specificity induction increased detail and specificity of autobiographical memory in people with major depression, relative to control conditions (N = 88). We therefore examined whether the induction enhanced the efficacy of CBT tasks that depend on episodic memory – cognitive reappraisal (Study 2, N = 30), evidence gathering (Study 2, N = 30), and planning behavioural experiments (Study 3a, N = 30). Across all three tasks, there were no significant differences in emotion- or belief-change between the specificity and control conditions. Although the induction temporarily enhanced specificity in depressed individuals, it did not significantly augment the efficacy of CBT tasks theorised to benefit from the use of specific mnemonic information.

Social Anxiety and Its Maintaining Factors: Accounting for the Role of Neuroticism

Models of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and research indicate several cognitive and behavioural maintaining factors that perpetuate social anxiety (i.e., maladaptive social-evaluative beliefs, self-focus, attention towards threat in environment, anticipatory processing, post-event processing, safety behaviours). It is unknown whether these maintaining factors are exclusive to social anxiety or if they are also related to neuroticism – a tendency to experience negative emotions. A community sample of adults (N = 263) completed measures of relevant constructs (social anxiety, neuroticism, depression, aforementioned maintaining factors). Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the cross-sectional data. In a good fitting model which included depression, social anxiety had unique positive associations with all maintaining factors. Neuroticism had unique positive associations with social-evaluative beliefs, self-focus, and post-event processing, but not with any of the other maintaining factors. This model also had superior fit compared to a plausible competing model which did not include neuroticism. Certain maintaining factors may not be exclusive to social anxiety, in contrast to how they are conceptualised in models of SAD. Furthermore, neuroticism may play a role in social anxiety, highlighting the potential of interventions for social anxiety to be advanced through greater incorporation of emotion regulation strategies for negative affect.