Decoding Cognitive Control and Cognitive Flexibility as Concomitants for Experiential Avoidance in Social Anxiety

Title

Decoding Cognitive Control and Cognitive Flexibility as Concomitants for Experiential Avoidance in Social Anxiety

Creator

Jain T.; Shukla R.; Panwar N.

Description

Background and objectives: Avoidance is regarded as a central hallmark of social anxiety. Experiential avoidance is perilous for social anxiety, specifically among university students (young adults). Additionally, cognitive control and cognitive flexibility are crucial components of executive functions for a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle. The current research is a modest attempt to understand how cognitive flexibility and cognitive control affect the emergence of experiential avoidance in social anxiety in young adults. Methods: Using an ex-post facto design, the Social Phobia Inventory was employed to screen university students with social anxiety based on which one hundred and ninety-five were identified. Thereafter, participants completed the standardized measures on experiential avoidance, cognitive control and cognitive flexibility. Results: A stepwise multiple regression analysis was computed wherein the cognitive control predicts an amount of 5% of variance towards experiential avoidance, whereas a 10% of additional variance has been contributed by cognitive flexibility. Interpretation and Conclusions: The statistical outcome indicated that cognitive control is positively associated with experiential avoidance which is a negative correlate to cognitive flexibility among university students. Both also emerged as significant predictors of experiential avoidance and add a cumulative variance of 15% towards the same. This conclusion supports the need for improved and efficient management techniques in counseling and clinical settings. The Author(s) 2024.

Source

Psychological Reports

Date

2024-01-01

Publisher

SAGE Publications Inc.

Subject

Cognitive control; cognitive flexibility; executive functions; experiential avoidance; social anxiety

Coverage

Jain T., Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, India; Shukla R., Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, India; Panwar N., Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, India

Rights

Restricted Access

Relation

ISSN: 332941; CODEN: PYRTA

Format

Online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941241268625

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85200274476&doi=10.1177%2f00332941241268625&partnerID=40&md5=0079e0531440fb97eaebf196303ce958