Social anxiety may have a negative effect on relationship quality

2nd May 2013 – Social anxiety may have implication for relationships as sufferers are less likely to provide supportive results to good news by a romantic partner leading to a decline in relationship quality.

Scientists at the George Mason University looked at couples reactions to positive news in relationships where one of the partners suffered from social anxiety.

The effect of social anxiety on relationship quality has previously not been well established. This paper specifically looked at capitalization  Capitilization is the supportive response an individual gets when they share news to their partner. For example, receiving a joyous congratulations  in response to success at a job interview. Positive supportive responses are an important part of developing intimacy and have been linked to  well-being, relationship satisfaction, commitment, and longevity

The paper found that social anxiety sufferers are less likely to provide and receive supportive responses to positive news. This is probably due to the suppression of positive and negative emotion that occurs in social anxiety.

Social anxiety sufferers were also viewed as unenthusiastic and non-expressive of positive emotions by independent observers. And over a 6 month period, low capitalization in these relationships was linked to an increase in the likelihood of breaking up and a decline in relationship quality.

This research was published in Behaviour Research and Therapy May 2013.

Take home message

Social anxiety sufferers should aim to provide a supportive response to their partners, as there can be a tendency to appear uninterested leading to negative effects on relationship quality.

Journal reference:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796713000739

Permissive parenting may promote the development of social anxiety

14th Febuary 2013 – A permissive parenting style has been linked to higher rates of social anxiety in children and adolescents, than other parenting styles.

The role of parenting in the development of social anxiety has been elucidated further thanks to a study by scientists at the University of Lagos. Children and adolescents were assessed on the basis of social anxiety, performance anxiety and the parenting style the individuals received.

Parenting style was classed as either permissive, authoritarian or authoritative.

Permissive parenting is where there are few or no rules and little or no controls is exerted over the children. So children are given complete freedom to make their life decisions and behave autonomously and independently.

Authoritarian parenting involves restrictive and punitive, and places firm limits and controls on children with little or no verbal exchange.

Authoritative parenting involves the use of behavioural and monitoring controls to guide and direct their children’s behaviour and provide them with reasons for their own actions.

The study found that permissive parenting tended to promote the highest level of social anxiety. This is in line with previous findings that this type of parenting style is associated with social incompetence and lack of self control. In particular, children brought up in a hybrid permissive/authoritarian parenting style (so no verbal exchange and no rules) had the highest level of social anxiety. Authoritative parenting had the lowest rate of social anxiety.

This research was published in Psychology Feb 2013.

Take home message

To prevent social anxiety in children, parents should take an authoritative approach to parenting. Communicate with your children, monitor their performance and give them the guidance. A hands off, permissive approach is more likely to lead to social anxiety in children as they can become less competent at controlling their emotions.

Journal reference:

http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperDownload.aspx?paperID=29221