(PS2-B34) Use of Cognitive Reappraisal Instructions to Regulate Anger in High versus Low Social Anxiety

Background: Previous studies have shown that the perception of interpersonal rejection predicts elevated anger (Gao et al., 2019). Individuals high in social anxiety (HSA) experience more frequent and intense anger compared to those with low social anxiety (LSA; e.g., Kashdan & Collins, 2010). However, research examining the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal to regulate anger in this population is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine differences in the effectiveness of instructed cognitive reappraisal to regulate anger in response to standardized film clips depicting social rejection among individuals with HSA versus LSA.

Method: Ninety-seven individuals with HSA (n = 51) or LSA (n = 46) participated in the study. Social anxiety symptoms were measured using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN; Connor et al., 2000), and participants scoring below 12 (LSA) or 30 and above (HSA) were invited to participate. The Anger subscale of the Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS; Curran et al., 1995) was used to measure participants’ state anger. Upon arrival at the lab, participants rated their state anger (prebaseline). They then watched a series of three standardized film clips. The first clip was used to elicit a neutral emotional state (baseline). The remaining two clips were used to induce anger. Participants were told to watch the first film carefully (uninstructed condition). For the second film, participants were instructed to use cognitive reappraisal (instructed condition). A short distraction task was included between the two anger-inducing films to reduce carryover effects. The POMS was completed after each part described above. Anger reactivity scores were calculated by subtracting the respective baseline period from the respective film period (e.g., Film 1 – Baseline).

Results: A 2 X 3 mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the effect of group (LSA vs. HSA), condition (neutral, uninstructed, instructed), and the Group X Condition interaction on participants’ anger reactivity. A significant Group X Condition interaction emerged, F(2, 190) = 3.08, p = 0.04, η2 = .03. Planned contrasts revealed that the HSA group reported a greater increase in anger reactivity from the neutral to uninstructed condition only, F(1, 95) = 4.98, p = .02, η2 = .03. Further, both groups reported a similar decrease in anger reactivity from the uninstructed to the instructed condition, F(1, 95) = 0.10, p = .67, η2 = .001.

Discussion: The present study demonstrated that participants with HSА, relative to LSA, reported greater anger reactivity in response to film clips depicting social rejection only when they received no instructions to use cognitive reappraisal. However, when instructed to use reappraisal, both groups benefitted to a similar extent as evidenced by a similar decrease in anger reactivity scores from the uninstructed to the instructed condition. These findings highlight that instructed cognitive reappraisal can be effective in reducing anger for individuals with elevated social anxiety. Further, the current findings are consistent with previous research showing greater cognitive and affective empathy in response to videos depicting personal discussions of social rejection (e.g., Auyeung & Alden, 2020).