Social Anxiety Research Articles

Ketamine-induced altered states of consciousness: a systematic review of implications for therapeutic outcomes in psychiatric practices.

This systematic review aims to elucidate the nexus between ketamine's psychoactive properties and its efficacy in treating a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders. We searched three databases and used citation tracking to include 29 studies. Predominantly, mood disorders, including bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) (MDD + BD: + n = 25studies), a large part of them involve treatment-resistant patients (n = 14studies), substance use disorder (SUD, n = 3studies), and social anxiety disorder (SAD, n = 1study). From all included studies(n=29), 15 (51.72%) of themidentified a positive relation between ketamine-induced altered states of consciousness and clinical outcomes, while 13studies (44.83%)showed no linkage between them, and one study (3.45%)delineated a negative association. Focusing solely on intravenous (IV) ketamine infusions (n = 25), 14 studies(56%)reported a positive modulation of ketamine's psychoactive effects and therapeutic benefits, whereas 10 studies(40%)confirmed no relationship, and one study (4%)showed a negative association. The single study(33.34%) involving subcutaneous ketamine and allthree studies (66.6%)intranasal administration did not demonstrate a significant interaction between ketamine's psychoactive effects and therapeutic response. All three SUD studies reported a positive correlation between ketamine's psychoactive effects and therapeutic response. In contrast, the single SAD study did not find a relationship between these parameters. For studies involvingmood disorders (n = 25), 12 studies (48%)reported a positive relationship between psychoactive effects and therapeutic response.Others 12studies (48%)identified a null relationship, and one study (4%)found a significant negative association. Although we have found a larger association than previous studies between ketamine's psychoactive properties and its efficacy in treating a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders, its topic remains indeterminate, mainly due to the high heterogeneity.

Parenting Style, Emotional Intelligence, and Social Anxiety among Adolescents: a Systematic Literature Review

Parenting Style, Emotional Intelligence, and Social Anxiety among Adolescents: a Systematic Literature Review

Association between childhood trauma and social anxiety in adolescents: The mediating role of self-compassion and loneliness

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown a correlation between childhood trauma and social anxiety. However, the underlying mechanism of this association is not well understood. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety in adolescents, and to explore the mediating role of self-compassion and loneliness. Participants and settingIn total 1309 adolescents (531 of whom were female) were recruited, and their mean age was 15.4 ± 2.30 years. MethodsParticipants completed the Adolescent Social Anxiety Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form, Self-Compassion Scale, and University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships among childhood trauma, self-compassion, loneliness, and social anxiety. The PROCESS Macro Model 80 was used for regression analysis to explore the mediating effects of self-compassion and loneliness on the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety. ResultsAfter controlling for the influence of gender and parental marital status, self-compassion mediated the association between childhood trauma and social anxiety, in which positive self-compassion alleviated the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety, while negative self-compassion aggravated the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety. Furthermore, self-compassion and loneliness chain-mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety. ConclusionThese results offer theoretical support for the research and intervention of adolescents' social anxiety, and are crucial for developing adolescents' mental health education and promoting interpersonal communication.

Unveiling mechanism of SNSs addiction on wellbeing: the moderating role of loneliness and social anxiety

ABSTRACT Social networking sites (SNSs) play a crucial role in the lives of online users. This research aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms of SNS addiction and its subsequent impact on the wellbeing of online users. Employing the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, we examine the influence of perceived enjoyment, utilitarian needs, and social influence on SNSs addiction and its associated consequences. Additionally, we consider the boundary conditions of loneliness as the predictors of SNSs addiction and social anxiety in the association between SNSs addiction and strain. We collected data (Time 1 and II) from 558 SNSs users using an online survey. By employing structural equation modelling via Smart PLS 4.0, our findings indicate that perceived enjoyment, utilitarian needs, and social influence significantly contribute to SNSs addiction. Furthermore, SNS addiction is positively correlated with strain, which positively triggers users’ wellbeing. We also found a significant positive moderating effect of loneliness and social anxiety on the proposed relationships. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the theoretical foundations and multifaceted influences contributing to the literature on SNSs addiction and its impact on wellbeing through strain. It also acknowledges the study's limitations and suggests directions for future research.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in patients with anxiety disorders in secondary mental health care settings alongside a randomized controlled trial.

Anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent mental disorders. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is effective for treating anxiety disorders. However, no studies have investigated the cost-effectiveness of MBCT for anxiety disorders. We aimed to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to clarify the cost-effectiveness of MBCT for anxiety disorders. A cost-effectiveness analysis alongside an RCT was conducted for 8 weeks in 40 patients with anxiety disorders at a university hospital. Patients (1) aged 20-75 years; (2) who were diagnosed with panic disorder/agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria; and (3) who provided written consent were analyzed. The participants were allocated randomly (1:1 ratio) to the augmented MBCT group (i.e., MBCT plus treatment as usual [TAU]) or TAU (waitlist control) group. The cost-effectiveness was assessed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), which is the ratio of the incremental costs divided by the incremental state-trait anxiety inventory- state (STAI-S), state-trait anxiety inventory- trait (STAI-T), and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The QALYs were estimated using The Japanese version of EuroQoL five-dimensional 3-level questionnaire. The unit cost data were derived from the government-regulated fees. This study was conducted from a public healthcare insurance perspective. No discount rates were considered. A total of 38 participants with complete data were included in the analysis. The MBCT was JPY 13,885 more than the cost of TAU and was associated with a STAI-S, STAI-T, and QALY increase of 10.13, 12.00, 0.009 respectively. The ICER were JPY 1,371 (USD13) per STAI-S, JPY 1,157 (USD 11) per STAI-T, and JPY 1,566,357 (USD 14,940) per QALY respectively. MBCT had an 77.5% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness to pay threshold in Japan (JPY 5,000,000 per QALY). The results of the four one-way sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the base-case analysis findings. Augmented MBCT for anxiety disorders is cost-effective compared with TAU post-treatment from a public healthcare insurance perspective. Future studies should include long-term observations, and analysis from a societal perspective.

Cognitive processing biases of social anxiety in adults who do and do not stutter

PurposeAdults who stutter are at risk of developing high levels of social anxiety, leading to negative outcomes and contributing towards stuttering relapse post treatment. To ensure that psychological treatments for social anxiety in stuttering adults are relevant and effective, a broader empirical understanding of the mechanisms of social anxiety in stuttering populations is required. Four key cognitive processing biases identified as maintenance factors in cognitive behavioral models of social anxiety were examined: self-focused attention, safety behavior use, negative self-imagery, and interpretation bias. MethodsAdults who stutter and non-stuttering adults (N = 186) were assessed via an online survey. Participants were categorised into two groups based on stuttering: formally diagnosed stuttering and non-stuttering. Within those groups, participants were further categorised as having low or high levels of social anxiety. Cognitive processing bias was assessed in response to two hypothetical social scenarios (i.e., social interaction and social performance). ResultsAs predicted, in both adults who stutter and who are non-stuttering, high social anxiety was related to greater self-focused attention, safety behavior use and negative self-imagery compared to low social anxiety. No significant effect of social anxiety or stuttering was found in relation to interpretation bias. A significant effect of social anxiety upon negative self-imagery was observed in formally-diagnosed adults who stutter compared to non-stuttering adults. ConclusionThe results support the use of cognitive behavioral models of social anxiety as a framework for research and treatment development within stuttering populations.

Safety behavior reduction for appearance concerns: A randomized controlled trial of a smartphone-based intervention.

Appearance concerns are a core feature of multiple psychiatric disorders (i.e., body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders, and social anxiety disorders). Individuals with these concerns commonly engage in appearance-related safety behaviors (ARSB), behaviors intended to avoid, prevent, or manage the negative evaluation of one's physical appearance. The present study evaluated a brief ARSB reduction intervention for appearance concerns. Women with elevated appearance concerns (N = 203) were recruited from across the United States and randomized to receive one of two 1-month smartphone-based interventions targeting ARSBs or unhealthy behaviors (UHBs). Both consisted of daily text messages with links to behavior checklists and reminders to avoid the respective behaviors. Participants in both treatments saw substantial reductions in symptoms. Though the UHB fading condition showed significantly better treatment adherence than ARSB fading, ARSB fading led to significantly lower appearance concerns (sr² = .028, p = .014) and eating disorder symptoms (sr² = .024, p = .020) at posttreatment, and lower appearance concerns (sr² = .041, p = .004), eating disorder symptoms (sr² = .029, p = .006), social anxiety (sr² = .048, p = .005), and appearance importance at 1-month follow-up (sr² = .042, p = .011), relative to UHB fading. Changes in ARSBs were found to partially mediate the effect of treatment on appearance concerns. These preliminary findings provide novel evidence for the efficacy of targeting ARSBs and suggest that this text-based intervention may be an efficacious and accessible intervention for women with elevated appearance concerns. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Social Anxiety in Adolescents: An Analysis of the Psychological Influence Mechanism of Social Media Use

With the rapid progress of Internet technology, social media has become an indispensable part of the daily life of contemporary teenagers, which has a profound impact on their social habits, information acquisition methods and psychological development tracks. This paper explores the psychological mechanism of social anxiety in adolescents using social media, aiming to reveal how social media exerts a profound influence on social behavior, psychological cognition and emotional state of adolescents through various complex ways.The features of social media, such as convenience, interaction, anonymity and visualization, together constitute the basic environment for teenagers to use social media. They have many impacts on teenagers, including positive aspects such as the expansion of social circle, the convenience of information acquisition and the realization of self-expression, and may also bring negative impacts, especially social anxiety. This paper makes an in-depth analysis from multiple dimensions. On the one hand, the phenomenon of social comparison on social media is widespread, and teenagers are prone to inappropriate self-evaluation and feelings of inferiority when browsing the life fragments carefully selected and displayed by others, which will trigger social anxiety. On the other hand, there is also the ever-present threat of cyberbullying and harassment, and these negative experiences pose a serious threat to adolescents' mental health and exacerbate their symptoms of social anxiety. In addition, the increase of information overload and cognitive burden, addiction and dependence on social media are also important factors leading to social anxiety among adolescents. From the family, school and social level, it is necessary to strengthen the education and guidance of young people, help them establish the correct concept of social media use, set a reasonable time to use, encourage physical social activities, and cultivate self-esteem and self-confidence. At the same time, for adolescents with social anxiety symptoms, professional psychological help should be sought in time to alleviate their anxiety and promote their mental health development.

Research hot topics and frontiers in social anxiety over the past decade: a CiteSpace bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science database from 2013 to 2023.

To understand the current study of social anxiety (SA) over the past decade, and to analyze the research hot topics and frontiers in this field. CiteSpace 6.2.R3 was used to analyze the literature on SA collected in the Web of Science Core Collection database from 2013 to 2023. A total of 9940 literature were included after the screening, and the annual publication volume showed a steady increase. The results emphasize that Zvolensky MJ, Pine DS, and Heimberg RG are important authors in the field of SA. The United States has the highest number of publications, with the University of California System contributing the most. Research hotspots include cognitive impairment, risk factors, complications, neuroimaging, and intervention strategies. SA related to the "theory of mind", "bullying victimization", "mobile phone", "network analysis", "technology", and "satisfaction" are emerging research foci. This study identifies the current situation and trends of SA research, and provides a reference for future research topics and directions.

The Predictive Role of Preschool Children's Attachment on Social Competence, Anxiety, Aggression and Self-Control: Peer Relationships as a Mediator.

The main purpose of this study is to examine the predictive role of preschool children's attachment on social competence, anxiety, aggression, and self-control of 5-year-old children (60-71 months), and to test the mediating effect of peer relationships in this model. A total of 309 children participated in the study. The data of the study were collected through the teacher checklist of peer relationships, the social competence and behavior evaluation scale-30, the self-control rating scale which the teacher filled out, and the doll story completion task which the researcher used during the application process. Path analysis was used to explain the direct and indirect relationships between the variables, and a Sobel test was also used to determine the mediational role of peer relationships. The results showed that peer relationships had a mediating effect on parental attachment between anxiety, anger, social competence, and self-control. This study shows that the reflections of insecure attachment experienced in the first years of life can be reduced by peer relationships and the reflections of secure attachment can be strengthened by peer relationships.

Evaluation of the Effect of Surgery on Psychosocial Function and Quality of Life in Children with Simple Congenital Ptosis and Their Parents.

Worldwide, limited information is available on the psychosocial function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with congenital ptosis, nor the effect of corrective surgery on these parameters. This study aimed to evaluate the social anxiety and HRQoL of Malaysian children with primary simple unilateral congenital ptosis following ptosis surgery. Materials and. A prospective cohort study was conducted among children with primary simple unilateral congenital ptosis and their parent/guardian who attended three tertiary hospitals from 2022 to 2024. The patients and parents answered the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) - Social Anxiety Domain, and the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scale, at the time of recruitment and three months after ptosis surgery. This study involved 45 children. Females comprised 57.8% (n=26). At enrolment, 18 (40.0%) had severe ptosis, and 15 (33.3%) had amblyopia. All surgeries were successful, with a mean MRD1 and mean inter-eye MRD1 difference of 4.070.62 mm and 0.290.46 mm respectively. Significant improvements in both social anxiety and HRQoL of children and parent were observed following surgery (p<0.001). A decrease in inter-eye MRD1 difference post-operatively was the only significant factor affecting social anxiety of children with ptosis following surgery (p<0.001). Together with the presence of amblyopia (p<0.001), the inter-eye MRD1 difference was found to have a significant impact on the improvement in HRQoL (p=0.021). Age, gender and education level of parent/guardians were found to significantly affect the change in social anxiety following ptosis surgery (p<0.05), while the factor most associated with improvement of parental HRQoL was an improvement in the MRD1 of the ptotic eye (p<0.001). Ptosis surgery significantly improved social anxiety and HRQoL in children with congenital ptosis and their parents/guardians. Psychosocial function should be a consideration when identifying indications for surgery in children with congenital ptosis.

Association between Internet Game Addiction and Social Anxiety Symptoms among Adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Internet Gaming Addiction (IGA) can have a significant impact on the characteristics of individual gamers and may even be a contributing factor to the development of social anxiety symptoms. This study of adolescent Saudi Arabian Internet gamers examined the influences of Internet gaming time and probable Internet Gaming Disorders (IGDs). It investigated the association between Internet game addiction and social anxiety symptoms among them. Methodology: The cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to June of 2023 among adolescents in the Saudi population. Probable IGD was measured by using the DSM-5 checklist, and the Arabic version of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) was used to evaluate social phobia or anxiety. Result: A total of 764 participants enrolled in the current study, 52% of whom were females, and 48% were males. 42% belonged to the age group 17-18, and 38% were 15-16. 44.8% of participants have a gaming addiction. There was a significant association between social phobia and gaming addiction (p-value ≤0.05). There was a significant association of social phobia with age and gender (p-value≤0.05). Conclusion: The findings imply a significant correlation between IGA and psychological concerns, particularly among male adolescents. Excessive internet gaming use leads to higher levels of social anxiety.

Functional excitation-inhibition ratio for social anxiety analysis and severity assessment.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition characterized by an intense fear of and avoidance of social situations. Traditional assessment methods for SAD primarily rely on subjective self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews, which can be prone to biases and inaccuracies. This study aims to explore the functional excitation-inhibition (fEI) ratio derived from EEG data as a potential objective biomarker for assessing SAD severity. Resting-state EEG data were collected from 20 control subjects and 60 individuals with varying degrees of SAD severity (mild, moderate, and severe). The fEI ratio was estimated across different EEG bands and analyzed, focusing on differences between control subjects and SAD groups. Significantly higher fEI ratios were observed in the alpha and low beta EEG bands in individuals with SAD compared to controls, especially within the prefrontal cortex. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the fEI ratio and the severity of social anxiety symptoms across SAD severity levels. The findings indicate that the fEI ratio in the alpha and low beta bands may serve as a promising biomarker for assessing SAD severity. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying social anxiety, offering a potentially more objective approach to SAD assessment compared to traditional methods.

Orthorexia Nervosa - unhealthy obsession on healthy lifestyle

Introduction: Eating disorders have expanded rapidly in recent years, with social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok playing a significant role. These platforms often showcase idealized images of healthy eating and body image, exposing young people to an overwhelming amount of information. This overstimulation can contribute to the development of various eating disorders. In our study, we focus particularly on orthorexia nervosa. Review methods: Our study was conducted as a literature review, with data gathered from PubMed and Embase. The state of knowledge: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), introduced by Steven Bratman in 1997, could be defined as an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. This obsession leads to strict dietary restrictions, where individuals often exclude certain food types, such as preservatives and GMOs, and experience significant stress and anxiety over food choices, planning, and preparation methods. The fixation on food purity can result in social isolation, anxiety, and major disruptions to daily life. In comparison to other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ON is characterized by its focus on food quality rather than body image or weight. Conclusions: The classification of orthorexia as a mental disorder and the need for its recognition in DSM-5 are still debated. However, growing concern about its impact on mental and physical health has led to increased research and awareness.

‘I have aym’d my black shafts at white markes’: Colours in The Queen of Corinth

The article offers a new angle on The Queen of Corinth (1617), a tragicomedy that Philip Massinger co-wrote with John Fletcher and Nathan Field. It discusses the way in which colours are skilfully used to sketch out the characters’ personalities, reproduce their mindset, values, gender, and social roles, and define the different agencies of men and women. This article sheds light on how the presence of colours and their interaction convey a cultural ideology and negotiate multiple meanings in terms of morality, sexual politics, gender, and justice while crystallising the sexual, social, and political anxieties of the period.

The impact of stress on sleep quality: a mediation analysis based on longitudinal data.

This study evaluates the potential mechanisms through which stress affects sleep quality and examines the mediating roles of rumination, social anxiety, emotion-focused coping strategies, and smartphone dependence in the relationship between stress and sleep quality. From October 2023 to April 2024, we conducted three surveys with 426 university students and utilized structural equation modeling to explore the mechanisms by which stress impacts sleep quality. Stress not only significantly predicts sleep quality but also significantly affects sleep quality through rumination, emotion-focused coping strategies, and smartphone dependence as independent mediators. Additionally, stress influences sleep quality through both dual-mediation and triple-mediation paths. Stress has a significant direct and indirect impact on sleep quality. This study reveals the complex mechanisms through which stress affects sleep quality. Improving individuals' sleep quality requires not only considering the influence of real-life stressors but also examining the intersecting effects between stress and factors such as ruminative thinking, social anxiety, smartphone dependency, and emotion-focused coping strategies. The intense social competition in Chinese society exacerbates the decline in sleep quality, highlighting the need for the government to implement more policies aimed at maintaining the physical and mental health of the population to alleviate the increasingly severe sleep issues and mental health crisis.

Virtual Reality-Based Exposure With 360° Environments for Social Anxiety Disorder: Usability and Feasibility Study.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations that can affect work, school, and other daily activities. Although cognitive behavioral therapy is effective, few seek treatment, and many who do start often drop out. This may be due to the component of exposure inherent to cognitive behavioral therapy, where the patient confronts feared stimuli outside the therapist's office, which they otherwise try to avoid. As an alternative, research has explored the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy with promising results. However, few studies have investigated the feasibility of VR tools using mixed methodologies before assessing their efficacy. This study aims to assess the usability, feasibility, and presence of four 360° virtual environments and whether these were able to evoke anxiety in patients with SAD. A total of 10 adult participants with SAD and 10 healthy controls were recruited for 1 experimental session (age range 21-32 y; 12/20, 60% male participants). Questionnaire and interview data were collected and analyzed. A mixed methods triangulation design was applied to analyze and compare the data. Participants with SAD experienced increased anxiety when exposed to VR, and environments were considered relevant and useful as an exposure tool. Participants with SAD reported significantly higher average anxiety levels (P=.01) and peak anxiety levels (P=.01) compared with controls during exposure; however, significant differences in anxiety when accounting for baseline anxiety levels were only found in 2 of 4 environments (P=.01, P=.01, P=.07, and P=.06). While presence scores were acceptable in both groups, participants with SAD scored significantly lower than controls. Qualitative analyses highlight this finding within the SAD group, where some participants experienced presence reduction due to being observed while in VR and in situations with reduced interaction in VR. VR exposure with 360° videos seems to be useful as a first step of exposure therapy for patients with SAD. Future exploration in the clinical application of VR-based exposure for SAD, as well as means of increasing presence within the virtual environments, may be useful.

Social anxiety in culturally diverse young people: An insight into lived experiences

AbstractObjectivesThere is little research exploring the subthreshold social anxiety (SSA) in culturally diverse young people. This study addresses this gap and provides an insight into the vivid world of this ‘hidden’ population.DesignFour participants from England were interviewed using semi‐structured interviews. Four superordinate themes and their corresponding subordinate themes emerged from the transcripts: Excessive self‐consciousness—The inner critic and Feeling judged by others; Influences of social and cultural norms—The impact of dress‐code rules and The pressure of high expectations; Embracing a false reality—Patterns of avoidance and The public self; and Coping strategies—Breaking the wall of cultural norms, Pushing the bubble out and Know that you are not alone. Due to the vastness of the data, this study presents only the first two superordinate themes and their corresponding subordinate themes.MethodsThe author chose interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). This allowed the participants to describe thoroughly their lived experiences and enabled the researcher to adopt a scientific approach.ResultsThe results revealed that the socio‐cultural background of this population played a pivotal role in the prevalence and expression of SSA.ConclusionsThe participants' experiences were significantly influenced by the social and cultural norms of their country of origin as well as the characteristics of modern society in England. The predominant factors were the pressure of high expectations from family and society, transgenerational trauma, socio‐cultural norms, uncertainty about the future and lack of opportunities to secure employment. Future research could examine the socio‐cultural influences shaping contemporary British society and their impact on youth's mental health.

Fear of appearance discrimination and its influence on well‐being across cultures

AbstractLookism encompasses discrimination based on a person's physical appearance. In a society where lookism is prevalent, the question arises concerning the impact of the fear of lookism on one's well‐being. To address this issue, we assessed the fear of anticipated appearance discrimination by constructing a new Fear of Lookism Scale (FLS). By testing 400 Japanese participants, we developed a three‐factor seven‐item scale and confirmed its convergent validity by establishing significantly positive correlations among its subscales (exclusion/devaluation, romantic rejection and insult) and related measures (physical appearance perfectionism and social appearance anxiety) in Study 1. In Study 2a, we gathered data from 312 Japanese participants to assess the scale's test–retest reliability. In Study 2b, combining data from 401 American participants with data from Study 2a, we verified FLS measurement invariance in the United States and Japan. Japanese participants scored higher on the FLS than Americans, particularly for exclusion/devaluation and insult. Across cultures, romantic rejection and insult were positively associated with physical appearance perfectionism, which, in turn, decreased subjective happiness through impacting self‐esteem (or increased loneliness) and increased subjective happiness through impacting self‐esteem (or decreased loneliness) respectively.

Linking early emotional abuse/neglect with young adolescents’ social (versus general) anxiety symptoms: A developmental cascade through emotion regulation

Despite the widely documented implications of childhood emotional abuse/neglect for subsequent anxiety symptoms, the implicated mechanisms remain under-revealed, especially the various transdiagnostic and specific pathways related to early experiences of emotional abuse versus emotional neglect and different types of subsequent anxiety symptoms (social versus general). Using three-wave data from 844 Chinese adolescents (Meanage = 13.21 at Wave 1, SD = 0.39; 53 % Boys), we tested emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) as explanatory mechanisms underlying the links between childhood emotional abuse/neglect and subsequent social anxiety symptoms (SAS), while simultaneously considering general anxiety symptoms (GAS) for the identification of possible specificity. Results indicated that expressive suppression played a mediating role in the links between emotional neglect and both forms of anxiety symptoms, whereas cognitive reappraisal served as a linking mechanism only for the link between emotional neglect and GAS. No effects were identified for emotional abuse. All associations were identified after controlling for the baseline levels of anxiety symptoms, the baseline uses of emotion regulation strategies, and covariates (age, gender, and family socioeconomic status). Our findings re-confirm that emotion regulation is an important intermediate process accounting for anxiety-related sequelae of early emotional deprivation, suggesting that expressive suppression appears to be a more developmentally transdiagnostic process shaped particularly by early emotional neglect to contribute to different types of subsequent anxiety symptoms. Accordingly, educational and clinical practices on emotion regulation likely benefit the affective well-being of young adolescents whose childhood has been clouded with emotional neglect.