Background: Selective mutism (SM) is a rare, heterogenous disorder classified as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-5 (APA. 2014). Due to a lack of research and the complexity of the disorder, much...Show moreBackground: Selective mutism (SM) is a rare, heterogenous disorder classified as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-5 (APA. 2014). Due to a lack of research and the complexity of the disorder, much remains unclear about the etiology and contributing risk factors of SM. More knowledge about the risk factors can contribute to early identification of children that are prone to developing SM. This may lead to better treatment outcomes, as earlier treatment is preferred. Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional case-control study investigates if there is a relationship between facial emotion recognition and social anxiety in 4- and 5-year-olds that are exceptionally quiet in social situations. Additionally, this study tried to identify whether parental behavior has a moderating effect. This was done by performing independents samples t-tests and multiple regression analyses. 16 silent children (M = 5.1 years, SD = 0.64) and 17 healthy controls from the same group (M = 4.8 years, SD = 0.52) participated in this study. The children performed an affect recognition subtest and parents filled in online questionnaire about their child. Results: Results showed that the quiet children had higher levels of social anxiety compared to the controls, with a medium, negative effect (r = -.4). Additionally, parents of quiet children were found to show less positive parenting compared to the controls. No group differences were found in facial emotion recognition. Regression analysis showed a negative, but non-significant, relation between emotion recognition and social anxiety, in both the quiet children and the control group. Positive parenting was negatively correlated with social anxiety but did not show a moderating effect on the relation between social anxiety and emotion recognition. Discussion: According to this study, emotion recognition cannot be seen as a risk factor for social anxiety. Positive parenting is associated with lower social anxiety in the child. However, the direction of this relation remains unclear. Replication of this study with a clinical population is advised, as well as further research on the causal relation between social anxiety and parenting behavior.Show less
