The role of stress reactivity in the long-term persistence of adolescent social anxiety symptoms

S.A. Nelemans, W. Hale, Susan J. T. Branje, P. A C van Lier, H. M. Koot, W.H.J. Meeus

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Abstract

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) symptoms demonstrate a marked persistence over time, but little is known empirically about short-term processes that may account for this long-term persistence. In this study, we examined how self-reported and physiological stress reactivity were associated with persistence of SAD symptoms from early to late adolescence. A community sample of 327 adolescents (56% boys, Mage = 13.01 at T1) reported their SAD symptoms for 6 successive years and participated in a public speaking task, during which self-reported (i.e., perceived nervousness and heart rate) and physiological (i.e., cortisol and heart rate) measures of stress were taken. Overall, our results point to a developmental process in which adolescents with a developmental history of higher SAD symptoms show both heightened perceived stress reactivity and heart rate reactivity, which, in turn, predict higher SAD symptoms into late adolescence.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)91-104
Number of pages14
JournalBiological Psychology
Volume125
Early online date6 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2017

Funding

Data of the RADAR study were used. RADAR has been financially supported by main grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (GB-MAGW 480-03-005, GB-MAGW 480-08-006), Stichting Achmea Slachtoffer en Samenleving (SASS), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research to the Consortium Individual Development (CID; 024.001.003), and various other grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the VU University Amsterdam, and Utrecht University. The authors would like to thank all schools and families for their participation.

FundersFunder number
Stichting Achmea Slachtoffer en Samenleving024.001.003
Universiteit Utrecht
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk OnderzoekGB-MAGW 480-03-005, GB-MAGW 480-08-006

    Keywords

    • Adolescence
    • Developmental processes
    • Public speaking task
    • Social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms
    • Stress reactivity

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