Where to Look?: A Gaze-Behavior Study with Socially Anxious Adolescents

Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience an intense fear of negative evaluation during social interactions. Safety behaviors such as gaze-avoidant behaviors are a key component of SAD. In this exploratory study we investigated the effect of a blended group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention program on gaze-behavior, and social and public speaking anxiety in socially anxious adolescents (N = 41, age 11-17, M = 14.5, SD = 1.5). Participants had clinical levels of SAD and were recruited from high schools . The intervention program consisted of 12 weekly sessions in a clinical setting with a primary focus on social skills training, cognitive restructuring techniques, and exposure sessions, alongside access to an mHealth app. Results indicated a decrease in social anxiety symptoms after treatment measured through a semi-structured interview (t = 10.4, p <.001), and an increase measured through the self-report questionnaire (t = -3.6, p <.001). Levels of...Show moreIndividuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience an intense fear of negative evaluation during social interactions. Safety behaviors such as gaze-avoidant behaviors are a key component of SAD. In this exploratory study we investigated the effect of a blended group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention program on gaze-behavior, and social and public speaking anxiety in socially anxious adolescents (N = 41, age 11-17, M = 14.5, SD = 1.5). Participants had clinical levels of SAD and were recruited from high schools . The intervention program consisted of 12 weekly sessions in a clinical setting with a primary focus on social skills training, cognitive restructuring techniques, and exposure sessions, alongside access to an mHealth app. Results indicated a decrease in social anxiety symptoms after treatment measured through a semi-structured interview (t = 10.4, p <.001), and an increase measured through the self-report questionnaire (t = -3.6, p <.001). Levels of public speaking anxiety did not differ significantly (t = .2, p = .805). Participants did show an increase in gaze-behavior towards faces during the public speaking task (t = -2.3, p = .025). No significant moderating effect of social anxiety on public speaking anxiety or gaze-behavior was found. This study indicated that a blended group CBT program is effective in reducing severity of social anxiety and increasing gaze-behavior towards faces.Show less

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Where to Look? A Gaze-Behavior Study with Socially Anxious Adolescents