Objective and perceived arousal during performance of tasks with elements of social threat: The influence of anxiety sensitivity

Background and objectivesPhysiological arousal serves to maintain social anxiety disorder by skewing self-perception. Anxiety sensitivity is associated with the disorder and exaggerated perceptions of arousal, but has not been tested as explaining exaggerated perceived arousal in social contexts. The aim of this investigation was to address this issue.MethodsA total of 42 individuals participated in three tasks associated with potential social threat (i.e., a speech, typing task, hyperventilation) and completed measures of trait social anxiety and anxiety sensitivity. State anxiety, perceived arousal, and objective arousal were assessed during each task.ResultsTrait social anxiety and anxiety sensitivity were correlated with state anxiety and perceived arousal, but not objective arousal, during the tasks. Anxiety sensitivity mediated the relationships between trait social anxiety and perceived arousal and between trait social anxiety and state anxiety for the typing and hyperventilation tasks.LimitationsAlthough the sample likely included a number of individuals with social anxiety disorder, the sample was mostly comprised of individuals without a diagnosis. The current results can be extended to clinical presentations to some extent, but future research is needed to further explore the demonstrated relationships in samples of individuals with social anxiety disorder.ConclusionsAnxiety sensitivity may play a crucial role in perceptions of arousal and state anxiety in the context of potential social threats, warranting attention from researchers and clinicians focussing on social anxiety disorder.

► Trait social anxiety is associated with exaggerated perceived arousal.
► Anxiety sensitivity is associated with exaggerated perceived arousal.
► Anxiety sensitivity mediates trait social anxiety and perceived arousal.