Investigating Differences in Sensitivity of State Self-Esteem to Unexpected Social Feedback Among University Students: The Moderating Role of Anxiety Symptoms

State self-esteem responds more sensitively to unexpected social feedback than to expected social feedback. This social prediction error sensitivity was elevated among individuals with lower global self-esteem. Which factors shape elevated social prediction error sensitivity among individuals with low global self-esteem is yet unknown. In addition to lower global self-esteem, individuals with elevated social prediction error sensitivity exhibited higher anxiety symptoms. Therefore, the present study investigated whether the relationship between elevated social prediction error sensitivity and lower global self-esteem can be explained by co-occurring anxiety symptoms related to social anxiety and trait anxiety. Furthermore, this study investigated which anxiety modality is more critical for shaping elevated social prediction error sensitivity. Considering biased social feedback processing among socially anxious individuals and the relevance of social anxiety symptoms in social...Show moreState self-esteem responds more sensitively to unexpected social feedback than to expected social feedback. This social prediction error sensitivity was elevated among individuals with lower global self-esteem. Which factors shape elevated social prediction error sensitivity among individuals with low global self-esteem is yet unknown. In addition to lower global self-esteem, individuals with elevated social prediction error sensitivity exhibited higher anxiety symptoms. Therefore, the present study investigated whether the relationship between elevated social prediction error sensitivity and lower global self-esteem can be explained by co-occurring anxiety symptoms related to social anxiety and trait anxiety. Furthermore, this study investigated which anxiety modality is more critical for shaping elevated social prediction error sensitivity. Considering biased social feedback processing among socially anxious individuals and the relevance of social anxiety symptoms in social feedback processing, it was hypothesized that social anxiety symptoms contribute more strongly to social prediction error sensitivity than trait anxiety symptoms. A sample of 221 university students (64% female, Age range = 17-38, Mage = 22.30, SDage = 3.36) participated in a computerized social evaluation task. Contrary to hypotheses, results indicated that anxiety symptoms did not influence social prediction error sensitivity. Results are discussed regarding differences in sample size and statistical analyses. This study marks the first investigation that intended to promote better understanding of elevated social prediction error sensitivity among individuals with lower global self-esteem. Its implications offer guidance for future research into factors underpinning biased social information processing of low self-esteem individuals who represent an at-risk population for developing psychopathology.Show less

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Investigating Differences in Sensitivity of State Self-Esteem to Unexpected Social Feedback Among University Students: The Moderating Role of Anxiety Symptoms