Self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, and avoidance behavior mediate the relationship between trait mindfulness and social anxiety: A cross-sectional study.
Shota Noda, Kentaro Shirotsuki, Satoko Sasagawa
Frontiers in Psychology August 8, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.942801 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 367 |
| Population | Undergraduate students at three universities in Japan |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Attention Cross-sectional studies Japan |
| Key findings | Trait mindfulness was directly negatively associated with self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, avoidance behavior, and social anxiety, and was also negatively associated with social anxiety indirectly through self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, and avoidance behavior. The authors argue these findings indicate mindfulness plays an important role in social anxiety and provide impetus for future clinical research on mindfulness-based interventions. |
Abstract
Self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, and avoidance behavior are maintaining factors for social anxiety. In particular, cost bias and avoidance behavior predict social anxiety. It has been shown that the enhancement of trait mindfulness improves these maintaining factors. This study examines the relationships among trait mindfulness, self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, avoidance behavior, and social anxiety, and clarifies whether they mediate the relationship between trait mindfulness and social anxiety. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the relationships among these variables. Participants were recruited from three universities in Japan (January 2019-December 2019). Undergraduate students (N = 367) completed a set of self-report measures assessing trait mindfulness, self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, avoidance behavior, and social anxiety. Results of path analyses revealed that the hypothesized model's goodness-of-fit indices had high values. Trait mindfulness showed a direct negative association with self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, avoidance behavior, and social anxiety. Moreover, trait mindfulness was negatively associated with social anxiety via self-focused attention, cost/probability bias, and avoidance behavior. These findings indicate that mindfulness plays an important role in social anxiety and provide impetus for future research involving clinical studies of mindfulness-based interventions for social anxiety.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Low-Intensity Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: Pilot Study International Journal of Cognitive Therapy June 30, 2023
- Low-intensity mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety: a pilot randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry March 7, 2024
- Higher mindfulness and lower self-absorption predict greater compassion within romantic relationships. Communications Psychology June 6, 2026
- The association between mindfulness and social anxiety in university students: the chain mediation role of rumination and self-compassion. Frontiers in Psychology April 23, 2026
Cites 6
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Self-Focused Attention and Mechanisms of Change in Mindfulness-Based Treatment Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 2009
- Mindfulness-based interventions for social anxiety disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research April 20, 2021
- Group CBT versus MBSR for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology May 2016
- A randomized pilot study of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and group cognitive-behavioral therapy for young adults with social phobia. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology October 2010
and 1 more in the library