Understanding psychological mechanisms linking social anxiety and paranoia: a cross-cultural general population survey in Thailand and the United Kingdom

Aunjitsakul, W., McLeod, H. J. and Gumley, A. (2022) Understanding psychological mechanisms linking social anxiety and paranoia: a cross-cultural general population survey in Thailand and the United Kingdom. Psychiatry Research Communications, 2(4), 100079. (doi: 10.1016/j.psycom.2022.100079)

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Abstract

Effective interventions for treating social anxiety in psychosis, and understanding mechanisms between social anxiety to paranoia are limited. This study investigated stigma, internal and external shame, social rank appraisals, self-esteem and safety behaviours as mediators between social anxiety and paranoia in cross-cultural Thai and UK samples. Participants aged ≥18-year-old completed a cross-sectional internet-delivered survey. Social anxiety, paranoia, depression, and hypothesised mediating variables were measured. Both of the Thailand and UK samples were analysed separately to explore cultural differences. Associations between social anxiety and paranoia were calculated by linear regression. Mediation analysis was used to test the indirect effects of mediators. Eight-hundred and forty-two people completed the survey (427 from Thailand: 415 from the UK). Linear relationships between social anxiety and paranoia were found across both countries. In multiple mediation analyses, the social anxiety-paranoia relationship controlling for depression was significantly mediated by external shame and safety behaviours in both countries. Self-esteem was also significant, but only in the UK. External shame and safety behaviours were significant mediators, cross-culturally, explaining the indirect pathway of the social anxiety-paranoia relationship. Interventions targeting external shame and safety behaviours should be tested in clinical population to guide intervention for psychosis. Hypothesised potential factors were discussed.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This study was supported by the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand and the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gumley, Professor Andrew and McLeod, Professor Hamish and Aunjitsakul, Warut
Authors: Aunjitsakul, W., McLeod, H. J., and Gumley, A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Journal Name:Psychiatry Research Communications
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2772-5987
ISSN (Online):2772-5987
Published Online:21 October 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Authors
First Published:First published in Psychiatry Research Communications 2(4): 100079
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in under a Creative Commons License

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