Post-event Processing Research Articles

Testing theoretical processes that maintain paediatric social anxiety: A comparison between children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder, other mental disorders, and non-clinical controls

BackgroundPaediatric social anxiety disorder (SoAD) responds poorly to treatment. Improved understanding of potential psychological maintaining processes may indicate fruitful directions to improve treatment outcomes. The current study compared self-reported psychological processes and state anxiety in response to two social tasks experienced by children and adolescents with SoAD against comparison samples. Methods641 children and adolescents aged 6–17 years (Mage = 9.45 yr; 47.6% girls) engaged in a brief, impromptu speech and a social discussion with a confederate. Participants included 307 with SoAD, 285 with other mental disorders, and 49 non-clinical controls. Participants who completed each task self-reported their anticipated probability and cost of negative evaluation, self-focused attention, personal evaluation of social performance, and engagement in post-event rumination (assessed 1 h later). Independent raters also scored their social performance. Relationships between the variables were tested through path analysis. ResultsParticipants with SoAD were more likely to avoid and reported significantly greater state anxiety than both comparison groups. They also reported higher levels of each of the putative maintaining processes than either comparison group. In contrast, independent observers did not discriminate between groups on their overt social performance. Path analyses demonstrated good fit of a priori models to the data for both social tasks. ConclusionsPaediatric SoAD is associated with strong expectation of the probability and cost of negative evaluation, excess self-focused attention, and more negative evaluation of one's own social performance. In turn, these putative processes are strong predictors of state anxiety and post-event processing in response to both a speech and social interaction.

The Guardian Node Slow DoS Detection Model for Real-Time Application in IoT Networks.

The pernicious impact of malicious Slow DoS (Denial of Service) attacks on the application layer and web-based Open Systems Interconnection model services like Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) has given impetus to a range of novel detection strategies, many of which use machine learning (ML) for computationally intensive full packet capture and post-event processing. In contrast, existing detection mechanisms, such as those found in various approaches including ML, artificial intelligence, and neural networks neither facilitate real-time detection nor consider the computational overhead within resource-constrained Internet of Things (IoT) networks. Slow DoS attacks are notoriously difficult to reliably identify, as they masquerade as legitimate application layer traffic, often resembling nodes with slow or intermittent connectivity. This means they often evade detection mechanisms because they appear as genuine node activity, which increases the likelihood of mistakenly being granted access by intrusion-detection systems. The original contribution of this paper is an innovative Guardian Node (GN) Slow DoS detection model, which analyses the two key network attributes of packet length and packet delta time in real time within a live IoT network. By designing the GN to operate within a narrow window of packet length and delta time values, accurate detection of all three main Slow DoS variants is achieved, even under the stealthiest malicious attack conditions. A unique feature of the GN model is its ability to reliably discriminate Slow DoS attack traffic from both genuine and slow nodes experiencing high latency or poor connectivity. A rigorous critical evaluation has consistently validated high, real-time detection accuracies of more than 98% for the GN model across a range of demanding traffic profiles. This performance is analogous to existing ML approaches, whilst being significantly more resource efficient, with computational and storage overheads being over 96% lower than full packet capture techniques, so it represents a very attractive alternative for deployment in resource-scarce IoT environments.

Effects of Internal, External, and Neutral Attentional Allocation on Post-Event Processing in Social Anxiety

Abstract Purpose Excessive attentional allocation towards threats has been theorized to play a maintaining role in social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, it is unclear if both heightened attentional focus towards internal threats (i.e., interoceptive signals of anxiety) and external threats (i.e., negative social-evaluative cues) are pathogenic. Further, evidence for the causal pathways by which biased attention maintains SAD is limited. The present study tested the effects of experimentally induced internally and externally oriented attention towards threats relative to a neutral control on state anxiety and post-event processing (PEP) in a highly socially anxious sample. Methods During an impromptu speech task, participants (N = 123) were randomized to allocating their attention to their own thoughts, actions, or body sensations (internal condition; n = 41), to an audience member’s reactions and evaluations (external condition; n = 42), or to a neutral object (control condition; n = 40). State anxiety and PEP were assessed immediately following the speech and 24 h later. Results Although no differences between the control condition and the external and internal conditions were observed, participants in the internal condition reported significantly higher state anxiety immediately after the speech and higher PEP 24 h later compared to the external condition. State anxiety immediately after the speech mediated heightened PEP 24 h later among the internal condition compared to the external condition. Conclusions Findings support the theorized maladaptive role of self-focused attention in the maintenance of SAD and suggest that attending internally may be more harmful than attending externally, despite the presence of socio-evaluative threats in the environment.

Research on the Application of Financial Sharing Center Based on Value Chain Theory Take the Mengniu Company as an Example

The growing size of enterprise groups and the rapid development of information technology have given rise to financial shared services. They have brought about changes in the financial management model, improved the efficiency of accounting processes, and strengthened the control of molecular companies by reconstructing financial processes. However, there are some shortcomings in the current financial shared services, for example, the application of financial shared services is mainly focused on the operational level, concentrating on post-event processing, lagging behind the demand and facing difficulties. Therefore, this paper takes the financial shared service center of Mengniu Group as the research object and focuses on how to use new types of financial information technology to realize the digital transformation of the enterprise financial management process. The case is analyzed using relevant theories. The financial shared services model has improved the efficiency of modern enterprises' production and operations, expanded the analysis and decision support functions of finance, and facilitated the digital transformation of enterprise finance; at the same time, the value of data assets related to financial shared services has not been fully exploited, and the benefits of financial sharing are still limited to internal enterprises and have not been extended to other enterprises in the value chain. It is recommended that enterprises further improve their shared services and combine them with digital transformation based on data, process, and business specifications, and implement them more deeply in all dimensions of the value chain in the future to achieve value creation.

Clinical and Psychosocial Predictors of Post-Event Processing in Adults Who Stutter.

Post-event processing, defined by self-critical rumination following a stressful communication event, is significantly associated with reduced quality of life. However, despite its relevance to the stuttering experience, to date, only a few studies have investigated post-event processing among adults who stutter, and no study has identified clinical and psychosocial predictors of post-event processing. The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of clinical markers of stuttering and psychosocial variables to post-event processing. Adults who stutter (N = 96) participated in two virtual sessions. After completing the Trier Social Stress Test, a standardized social stress task in Session 1, participants completed measures of post-event processing, clinical markers of stuttering (i.e., the experience of stuttering, self- and observer-rated stuttering severity), and psychosocial characteristics (i.e., self-perceived performance, self-esteem, social anxiety, trait, and state self-compassion) in Session 2. Hierarchical linear regression models indicated that a more negative experience of stuttering, higher self-rated stuttering severity, and greater social anxiety predicted more post-event processing. Greater self-perceived performance and state self-compassion predicted less rumination. Observer-rated severity, self-esteem, and trait self-compassion were not significantly associated with post-event processing behavior. Findings reveal clinical and psychosocial variables to consider in the assessment and mitigation of post-event processing behavior in adults who stutter, and to bolster resiliency to social stress. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24223213.

Just do something: An experimental investigation of brief interventions for reducing the negative impact of post-event processing in social anxiety disorder

Post-Event Processing (PEP) is prevalent and problematic in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) but is typically not a direct target in evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for SAD. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the impact of several theoretically and empirically derived interventions for PEP in SAD, including concrete thinking, abstract thinking, and distraction in comparison to a control (i.e., do nothing) condition. Based on prior research, we hypothesized that the concrete and distract conditions would be associated with positive benefits, including reductions in PEP and improvements in self-perception, whereas the abstract and control conditions would not. The second aim of the study was to identify baseline variables that predict the trajectory of change in PEP over time. Participants (N=92) with a principal diagnosis of SAD completed a social stress task and were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. Participants completed measures at baseline, post-intervention/control, and at 1-week, and 1-month follow-up. Contrary to hypotheses, all three active conditions were similarly effective at reducing PEP and improving self-perceptions relative to the control condition. In the absence of an intervention, engagement in PEP remained high up to a month following the social stress task. Higher levels of baseline state anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and use of safety behaviours predicted greater PEP, even in the presence of an intervention. These results highlight the benefits of relatively brief interventions that disrupt the course of PEP for people with SAD. Such interventions can be easily incorporated into CBT protocols for SAD to enhance their effects.

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.

A retrospective study of negative and positive post-event processing following stressful and pleasant social interactions

Background and objectivesNegative post-event processing (PEP) is a key maintenance factor of social anxiety, but little is known about the role positive PEP, particularly in relation to situations that are not perceived as stressful. The objective was to examine negative and positive PEP following stressful and pleasant social interactions. We were also interested in how participants remembered and described the interactions. MethodsYoung adults (n = 411) recalled a recent pleasant or stressful social interaction and indicated how much negative and positive PEP they engaged in since the interaction. They also completed questionnaires measuring social anxiety and the memory's phenomenological qualities and wrote a description of the interaction. ResultsHigher social anxiety was linked with more negative and less positive PEP, regardless of whether the interaction was perceived as stressful or pleasant. Participants reporting more negative PEP used more negative words in describing the interaction and their memory was more negative and emotionally intense. Those reporting more positive PEP used more positive and less negative words in their descriptions. For stressful interactions, positive PEP was related to a more positive memory; for pleasant ones, it was related to increased emotional intensity. LimitationsLimitations included the sample type (restricted age range, non-clinical) and the retrospective, cross-sectional nature of the study. ConclusionsResults provide insight into PEP following stressful and pleasant social interactions. We also found preliminary evidence that positive PEP may be helpful and protective. Future studies may benefit from longitudinal and mixed methods designs.

Judging others makes me forget: Assessing the cognitive, behavioural, and emotional consequences of other-evaluations on self-evaluations for social anxiety

Background and objectivesPeople with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) evaluate themselves negatively before, during, and after anxiety-provoking social situations, which leads to negative consequences (e.g., performance deficits, memory impairments, and post-event processing). Despite decades of research, little is known regarding whether these evaluations generalize to how they view others. Social projection theory—the belief that others are similar to oneself—might further extend the basic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model. Our aim was to understand whether the degree to which people negatively evaluate a visibly anxious person causes them to negatively evaluate themselves. Methods172 unselected participants completed several baseline questionnaires. We then randomly assigned participants to provide high-, medium-, or no-evaluation of a videotaped anxious person (i.e., other-evaluations) while we assessed their state anxiety. After, they evaluated the anxious person on multiple criteria. Participants then participated in an impromptu conversation task and subsequently evaluated their own performance. ResultsAlthough our manipulation was effective, we found no emotional or behavioural differences between conditions. However, people in the high-evaluation condition recalled significantly fewer facts about their conversation partner than did people in the medium- and no-evaluation conditions. LimitationsAfter data cleaning, the sample size was slightly smaller than planned; most analyses were nonetheless appropriately powered. Our findings may not generalize beyond unselected undergraduate students; replication in a clinical sample is warranted. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the cognitive consequences (i.e., memory impairments) of other-evaluations, which cognitive behavioural therapists should consider when treating individuals with SAD.

Dimensions of inattention: Cognitive, behavioral, and affective consequences.

Inattention to one's on-going task leads to well-documented cognitive, behavioral, and physiological consequences. At the same time, the reliable association between mind-wandering and negative mood has suggested that there are affective consequences to task inattention as well. We examined this potential relationship between inattention and mood in the following study. Six hundred and fifty-five participants completed self-report questionnaires related to inattentive thinking (i.e., attentional lapses, daydreaming, mindfulness, rumination, reflection, worry, postevent processing, inattentiveness, and counterfactual thinking), a questionnaire about depressive symptoms, and a questionnaire about anxiety symptoms. First, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify potential underlying constructs of types of inattentive thinking. Using ordinary least squares extraction and Oblimin rotation, a three-factor model demonstrated suitable fit, broadly representing mind-wandering/inattentive consequences, repetitive negative thinking, and reflective/introspective thinking. Second, after eliminating measures that did not strongly load on any factor, structural equation modeling was conducted and found that the relationship between mind-wandering and depression was partially explained by repetitive negative thinking, whereas the relationship between mind-wandering and anxiety was fully explained by repetitive negative thinking. The present findings suggest that understanding how inattentive thoughts are interrelated not only influences mood and affect but also reveals important considerations of intentionality, executive functioning, and qualitative styles of these thoughts.

Relationship between social anxiety and addictive behaviors in college students The mediating role of post-event processing

Relationship between social anxiety and addictive behaviors in college students The mediating role of post-event processing

사회불안장애의 안전행동이 사후처리에 미치는 영향 : 생태순간평가 연구

사회불안장애가 있는 사람들은 사회적 상황에서 안전행동을 사용하여 자신의 불안증상을 숨기려 하고, 사회적 상황이 끝난 후에는 사후처리를 통해 자기 행동과 다른 사람의 반응을 부정적으로 돌이켜본다. 안전행동과 사후 처리는 사회불안장애를 유지하는 주요 변인으로 언급되었다. 그러나 두 변인에 대한 선행연구 결과는 다소 혼재 되어 있으며, 변인의 특징을 고려한 측정법을 적용하지 못했다는 한계가 있다. 따라서 본 연구에는 선행연구의 한계점을 보완하고 발표 상황에서 안전행동이 사후처리에 미치는 영향을 확인하고자 하였다. 또한 시간에 따른 사후처리 변화양상을 알아보기 위해 생태순간평가를 활용하여 10일 동안 사후처리를 측정하였다. 이를 통해 사 회불안장애를 설명하는 이론적 모델의 경험적 근거를 확보하고, 두 변인을 적절히 측정할 수 있는 방법을 고안 하려 하였다. 60명의 사회불안장애가 있는 참가자들을 안전행동 사용과 금지 두 집단에 무선 할당하였다. 설문지 와 면담법을 활용하여 참가자의 개인 특이적 안전행동을 확인 및 조작하고 즉흥발표를 하게 하였다. 이어서 생 태순간평가 방식을 활용하여 10일간 사후처리를 측정하였다. 그 결과 면담법을 통해 안전행동 사용과 금지를 적 절히 조작할 수는 있었으나, 안전행동 사용 여부에 따른 발표 직후 사후처리 점수에서 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 10일 동안 사후처리는 감소하는 추세를 보였으며, 안전행동 사용 여부에 따른 감소세의 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 10일 동안 불안한 사회적 상황을 경험한 사람들은 사회적 상황을 경험하지 않은 사람들에 비해 자신이 한 발표에 대해 더욱 높은 수준의 사후처리를 경험하였다. 본 연구는 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 안전행동 감소와 사후처리 사이에는 인지적 요인이 개입될 수 있음을 제안하였다. 또한 안전행동을 조작하는 실험 절차를 고안하 고, 생태순간평가 방식으로 사후처리 측정을 시도했다는 점에서 의의가 있다.

줌(zoom)을 통한 화상대화에서 사회불안의 자기초점주의와 사후처리의 변화양상 연구

본 연구는 화상대화를 하는 동안 자기지각 여부에 따른 자기초점주의와 사후처리의 변화양상을 확인하고 자 했다. 80명의 성인을 대상으로 고 사회불안집단과 저 사회불안집단을 선별하였다. 화상대화 시 자기 얼 굴제시 여부로 무선 배정하여 최종 4집단을 구성하였다. 참가자들은 5분 동안 낯선 이성과 화상대화에 참 여하였으며 화상대화 전, 직후, 24시간 후 각각 설문에 응하였다. 화상대화 전과 직후 얼굴지각, 자기초점 주의, 사후처리 수준의 차이를 확인한 결과, 얼굴지각에 따른 자기초점주의 수준의 차이는 유의하지 않았 다. 고 사회불안집단에서는 저 사회불안집단보다 화상대화 직후 및 24시간 후 사후처리 수준이 모두 높게 나타났다. 이에 대한 상관분석 결과, 고 사회불안집단에서 얼굴 확인 정도가 부정적 평가 예상 정도 및 사 후처리와 정적상관을 보였으며, 저 사회불안집단에서는 얼굴 확인 정도가 긍정적 평가 예상 정도, 상태 자 기초점주의 및 상태 외부초점주의와 정적상관이 나타났다. 사회불안이 높은 집단에서 얼굴지각과 사후처리 사이의 기제를 확인하기 위해 매개분석을 실시하였다. 그 결과, 고 사회불안집단의 경우에만 자신의 얼굴 을 지각하면 부정적 평가에 대한 예상을 하게 되며 이는 화상대화 24시간 후의 사후처리에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 COVID-19로 인해 화상회의 및 수업이 증가한 상황에서 사람들이 자신의 얼굴 을 보는 것에 불편감을 느끼는 이유에 대한 함의를 제공하며, 사회불안장애 특정적인 사후처리가 대면뿐만 아니라 온라인 사회적 상호작용 후에도 나타남을 확인하였다.

“That impending dread sort of feeling”: Experiences of social interaction from the perspectives of autistic adults

BackgroundQuantitative research increasingly suggests that many autistic adults experience heightened levels of anxiety during social interaction. While anxiety related to social interactions is prevalent in the autistic population, little is known about how autistic individuals experience social situations – from anticipatory stages, through to in-vivo and post-event processing, and how these experiences may relate to social anxiety within the specific context of autistic adult populations. MethodThis study sought to qualitatively explore the perspectives of autistic individuals in relation to their experience of social situations, with the aim of examining how these experiences may relate to anxiety during social interactions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 autistic adults with data being analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis to identify themes relevant to each stage of social interaction. ResultsThemes derived from autistic adult participants suggest that several anxiety-related processes may be operating in autism, influencing social interaction experiences. Specifically, the sensory environment, topic of conversation and conversation partner, were identified as influencing the perceived success and comfort of interactions. Feelings of anxiety, as well as self-monitoring and adaptive morphing were often identified as exhausting. ConclusionFindings indicate a need to consider how anxiety and environmental factors influence the experiences of social interaction and communication for autistic adults.

Clarifying the association of social anxiety with cognitive variables: The role of self-esteem, self-perception, fears of positive and negative evaluation, and post-event processing.

Theoretical models of social anxiety disorder (SAD) have identified several cognitive factors (fear of negative evaluation [FNE], self-perception, self-esteem, and post-event processing [PEP]) that play a role in the maintenance of the disorder. The current study aimed at testing both the cognitive factors addressed in these different models and the fear of positive evaluation (FPE) in the same construct. A non-clinical emerging adulthood sample (N=325) were subjected to structural equationmodeling (SEM). The results of the SEM showed that FPE, FNE, and self-concepts (self-esteem and self-perception) were significantly associated with social anxiety. Effect sizes indicated that the variables that most affected social anxiety were FPE, self-perception, FNE, and self-esteem, respectively. However, although it was significant in the conceptual model, the direct effect of social anxiety on PEP was not significant in the full model. On the other hand, the present findings add further support to the roles of negative self-perception and low self-esteem in social anxiety. Moreover, FPE may not be just delayed/postponed FNE. Considering the effect size of FPE on social anxiety, targeting it when appropriate in treatment may reduce the severity of social anxiety.

Clinical, demographic and theory-derived maintaining factors as moderators of treatment outcome in internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) is an efficacious treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD) in youth. However, we have limited knowledge about patient characteristics that may be associated with better (or worse) treatment outcome. Particularly concerning factors suggested to be involved in the maintenance of SAD (e.g., anticipatory anxiety and post-event processing). The aim of the current study was to evaluate possible predictors and moderators of the effect of ICBT in a randomised controlled trial where children and adolescents (N = 103; 10–17 years) with SAD received either ICBT or internet-delivered supportive therapy, ISUPPORT. Examined variables were pre-treatment levels of social anxiety, depression symptoms, putative maintaining factors as well as demographic variables like age and gender. Latent growth curve models were used to examine predictors and moderators of changes in youth and clinician rated social anxiety symptoms, from pre-treatment to 3-month follow-up. Baseline depression symptoms moderated the outcome, with higher depression scores being associated with greater reduction of SAD symptoms in ICBT compared to ISUPPORT. More difficulties at baseline with anticipatory anxiety, post-event processing, focus of attention and safety behaviours predicted greater reduction of SAD symptoms, regardless of treatment condition. No other clinical or demographic variable predicted or moderated the outcome. In summary, baseline depression severity may be an important moderator of ICBT, but the preliminary finding needs replication in sufficiently powered trials.

The relationship between three subtypes of safety behaviors and social anxiety: Serial mediating effects of state and trait post-event processing

The cognitive model for social anxiety disorder (SAD) highlights the role of safety behaviors and post-event processing (PEP). We identify the serial mediating effect of state and trait PEP between three types of safety behaviors (impression management, avoidance behavior, and anxiety-symptom control) and social anxiety. Given that the associations between the three subtypes of safety behaviors and two perspectives of PEP have not yet been examined, we aimed to investigate these relationships according to the level of social anxiety. A total of 487 participants participated in an online survey. Participants were classified into two groups, high and low, based on their social anxiety scores. We used Social Behavior Questionnaire to distinguish three types of safety behaviors and the State and Trait versions of the Post-Event Processing Inventory to identify two perspectives of PEP. We used descriptive statistics and an independent t-test to compare the high and low social anxiety groups. Mediation effects were examined using mediation analysis and bootstrapping with 5,000 replications. The results showed that the three safety behaviors had different effects on social anxiety via PEP. In the high social anxiety group, avoidance behavior and anxiety-symptom control predicted social anxiety positively, whereas impression management did not. However, with state PEP and trait PEP as mediators, impression management and avoidance behavior positively predicted social anxiety but not anxiety-symptom control. In the low social anxiety group, only avoidance behavior was significantly related to social anxiety, but when the state and trait PEP were mediated, the effect disappeared. These results indicated that impression management could affect social anxiety only when mediated by PEP in people with high social anxiety. A better understanding of the content and processes underpinning safety behavior and PEPs might have important implications for the prevention and treatment of social anxiety disorder.

Behaviour Real-Time Spatial Tracking Identification (BeRSTID) used for Cat Behaviour Monitoring in an Animal Shelter

Efficiently tracking animal behaviour in an animal shelter has direct lifesaving applications. Individualized care and early recognition of distress in cats are often missed. However, monitoring behaviour is a challenge as time and financial resources are often limited, and the size and needs of animal populations within shelters are commonly in flux. Our research required a method of behavioural observation that was simple, accessible, used limited human and computer resources and allowed for real-time feedback. Here, we present BeRSTID, an open-source behaviour real-time spatial tracking identification system demonstrated on six cats in an animal shelter using unique 2D fiducial markers. The markers were attached to custom veterinary paper identification collars for feedback on individual animal behaviour over time. Our findings show that BeRSTID correlated closely to human-coded data in both real-time and post-event processing modes of eating and drinking behaviours of cats in naturalistic shelter environments. By building upon a lateral concept of marker tracking for direct applied use in a new context, we present a low-barrier user-friendly solution using common technologies that can track animals for research and, with further development, may help improve welfare in animal care facilities such as shelters. Extensions of BeRSTID may be generalized to track unique subjects in varied environments for multiple use cases.

Ecological momentary assessment of post-event processing in between two speech tasks: Relationships with cognitive and affective factors involved in the maintenance of social anxiety

Socially anxious individuals tend to review past distressing social situations, a process called post-event processing. The goal of this 4-day study was to investigate how PEP evolved over time in between two speech tasks in a sample of 101 students using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). In addition, we examined the relationships between post-event processing and other cognitive and affective processes involved in social anxiety, including anticipatory processing, anxiety, performance appraisals, and memory. Results from EMA showed that post-event and anticipatory processing decreased over time. Higher anxiety during the speech and poorer performance appraisals predicted more post-event processing, though post-event processing was unrelated to changes in performance appraisals over time. Post-event processing the day following the first speech was positively associated with anticipatory processing the day before the second speech. Participants who engaged in more post-event processing also remembered the first speech differently (e.g., more negative and emotionally intense). Implications for the cognitive-behavioural treatment of social anxiety are discussed.

Understanding the Dimensions of Post-Event Processing: Applying a Bifactor Modeling Approach to the EPEPQ-15.

Social anxiety disorder is maintained in part by rumination about past social experiences, known as post-event processing. The Extended Post-Event Processing Questionnaire (EPEPQ-15) assesses post-event processing as three correlated factors. Competing against this structure is a bifactor model that has not yet been evaluated for the EPEPQ-15. These models were tested for the conventional state version of the EPEPQ-15 and a new trait version in two separate samples (Ns = 327 and 351). In both samples, the fit of the bifactor model was better than that of correlated factor models. Moreover, the results did not support the group factors, indicating that a unidimensional interpretation of the EPEPQ-15 is most appropriate. The general dimension of the EPEPQ-15 was highly correlated with social interaction anxiety, beliefs related to social anxiety, anticipatory processing, and safety behaviors. These results overall suggest post-event processing is best conceptualized as a unitary construct.