Thomas L. Rodebaugh

More information from fewer questions: The factor structure and item properties of the original and Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale

Statistical methods designed for categorical data were used to perform confirmatory factor analyses and item response theory (IRT) analyses of the Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (FNE; D. Watson & R. Friend, 1969) and the Brief FNE (BFNE; M. R. Leary, 1983). Results suggested that a 2-factor model fit the data better for both the FNE and the BFNE, although the evidence was less strong for the FNE. The IRT analyses indicated that although both measures had items with good discrimination, the FNE items discriminated only at lower levels of the underlying construct, whereas the BFNE items discriminated across a wider range. Convergent validity analyses indicated that the straightforwardly-worded items on each scale had significantly stronger relationships with theoretically related measures than did the reverse-worded items. On the basis of all analyses, usage of the straightforwardly-worded BFNE factor is recommended for the assessment of fear of negative evaluation.

The factor structure and screening utility of the social interaction anxiety scale

The widely used Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS; R. P. Mattick & J. C. Clarke, 1998) possesses favorable psychometric properties, but questions remain concerning its factor structure and item properties. Analyses included 445 people with social anxiety disorder and 1,689 undergraduates. Simple unifactorial models fit poorly, and models that accounted for differences due to item wording (i.e., reverse scoring) provided superior fit. It was further found that clients and undergraduates approached some items differently, and the SIAS may be somewhat overly conservative in selecting analogue participants from an undergraduate sample. Overall, this study provides support for the excellent properties of the SIASs straightforwardly worded items, although questions remain regarding its reverse-scored items.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale in Patients With Social Anxiety Disorder

The Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale (FPES; J. W. Weeks, R. G. Heimberg, & T. L. Rodebaugh, 2008) was designed to assess fear of positive evaluation, a proposed cognitive component of social anxiety. Although previous findings on the psychometric properties of the FPES have been highly encouraging, only 1 previous study has examined the psychometric profile of the FPES in a sample of patients with social anxiety disorder (T. A. Fergus et al., 2009). The primary purpose of the present study was to conduct a large multisite examination of the psychometric profile of the FPES among patients with a principal diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (n = 226; generalized subtype = 97.8%). Responses of nonanxious control participants (n = 42) were also examined. The factorial validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and treatment sensitivity of the FPES were strongly supported by our findings. Furthermore, an FPES cutoff score was identified for distinguishing levels of fear of positive evaluation characteristic of patients with social anxiety disorder from those characteristic of the control group. Results provide additional support for the psychometric properties of the FPES in clinical samples.

To Avoid Evaluation, Withdraw : Fears of Evaluation and Depressive Cognitions Lead to Social Anxiety and Submissive Withdrawal

We propose a cognitive model of social anxiety-related submission based upon psycho-evolutionary accounts of social anxiety and depression and present results of two studies supporting this model. We tested a confirmatory factor model consisting of three latent lower-order factors (fear of negative evaluation, fear of positive evaluation, and depressive cognitions), all of which load onto a single latent higher-order submissive cognitions factor. In essence, we propose that the symptoms associated with social anxiety and depression (in part) served adaptive functions for coping with social threats in the ancestral environment and that the cognitive symptoms associated with these disorders may function collectively as integrated components of a social anxiety-related submission mechanism. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the hypothesized model fit well. A score derived from the submissive cognitions factor correlated strongly with social anxiety-related measures and less strongly with measures of generalized anxiety/worry in Studies 1 and 2. Furthermore, this submissive cognitions score correlated in the expected direction with self-report measures of social comparison, negative affect, and positive affect in Study 2, and mediational analyses indicated that submissive cognitions may mediate the relationship between social comparison and submissive behaviors. Findings from both studies provide support for the proposed model.

Those Who Think They Look Worst Respond Best: Self-observer Discrepancy Predicts Response to Video Feedback Following a Speech Task

Recent evidence suggests that video feedback helps improve the accuracy of self-ratings of performance in speech-anxious participants (e.g., Rapee & Hayman, 1996. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 34, 315–322.). Evidence also suggests that this effect is stronger for participants who have a more negatively distorted impression of their performance (self-observer discrepancy; Rodebaugh & Chambless, 2002. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 26, 629–644.). Data collected in Rapee and Hayman’s study were analyzed to determine if similar results would be found in this independent sample. Evidence was found for moderating effects of self-observer discrepancy comparable to those shown in Rodebaugh and Chambless. The self-observer discrepancy itself showed relatively weak relationships with general indices of social anxiety, but a very strong relationship with initial self-rating of performance. The results suggest that self-observer discrepancy is a predictor of response to video feedback, and that clinicians may be able to estimate the discrepancy by examining self-rating in conjunction with behavior.

The longitudinal relationship between fear of positive evaluation and fear of negative evaluation

Abstract Available research suggests that fear of negative evaluation and fear of positive evaluation are related but distinct constructs that each contribute to social anxiety, implying a need to focus on these fears in treatment. Yet, this research is almost entirely based on cross-sectional data. We examined the longitudinal relationship between fears of positive and negative evaluation over three time points in a sample of undergraduate students. We tested competing models consistent with two basic positions regarding these fears: (1) that fear of positive evaluation only appears to affect social anxiety because it arises from the same, single underlying trait as fear of negative evaluation, and (2) fears of positive and negative evaluation are correlated, but clearly distinct, constructs. The best-fitting model was an autoregressive latent-trajectory model in which each type of fear had a separate trait-like component. The correlation between these trait-like components appeared to fully account for the relationships between these constructs over time. This investigation adds to the evidence in support of the second position described above: fear of positive evaluation is best interpreted as a separate construct from fear of negative evaluation.

Perfectionism and social anxiety: rethinking the role of high standards.

Some researchers contend that high standards are an essential component of social anxiety. We tested this hypothesis in two independent samples. The consistent finding across samples was that higher scores on measures of high standards from two perfectionism scales predicted lower scores for social anxiety measures. These findings suggest lower, not higher, standards are involved in social anxiety, but more research is needed to clarify the implications of perfectionism, particularly the maladaptive form, in the context of social anxiety.

Latent structure of social fears and social anxiety disorders.

BACKGROUND Despite its high prevalence and associated levels of impairment, the latent structure of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is not well understood, with published studies reporting inconsistent results. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the latent structure of social fears in individuals with and without SAD is the same. METHOD Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis followed by multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) analysis were conducted on 13 commonly feared social situations assessed in a nationally representative sample including individuals with SAD and those with social fears but who did not meet DSM-IV criteria for SAD. RESULTS An EFA conducted in the full sample, including individuals with no social fears (88% of the sample), yielded only one factor. When the sample was restricted to those with at least one social fear, the EFA yielded three factors, in both the subsample with at least one social fear but no SAD and the subsample with SAD. The three factors represented feared situations related to public performance, close scrutiny and social interaction. The MIMIC analyses further indicated that the three-factor structure was able to explain differences in prevalence of social fears across a broad range of sociodemographic covariates. CONCLUSIONS Among individuals with at least one social fear and those with DSM-IV SAD the latent structure of social fears appears to be best described by three factors, although this may partially depend on how the sample is specified. These results may help reconcile the findings of different numbers of factors identified in previous studies.