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Cited by 17Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Disentangling the effects of attentional difficulties on fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms: Unique interactions with sluggish cognitive tempo

Open access
Fredrick, Joseph W., Becker, Stephen P., Kofler, Michael J., Jarrett, Matthew A., Burns, G. Leonard, Luebbe, Aaron M.·2020·Journal of Psychiatric Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.08.030PMC PMC7669641
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Abstract

Although fears of negative and positive social evaluation are hallmark cognitive features of social anxiety, attentional difficulties may exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety. Thus, the goal of the current study was to test whether two different types of self-reported attentional difficulties, specifically sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inattention symptoms, moderate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety. Participants (N = 4756; Mage = 19.28 years; 72.7% female) enrolled in five universities across the United States completed self-report measures of fears of negative and positive evaluation and psychopathology symptoms. Results indicated a significant two-way interaction of fear of negative evaluation and SCT in relation to social anxiety symptoms, as well as a significant two-way interaction of fear of positive evaluation and SCT in relation to social anxiety symptoms. In both instances, the associations between fears of negative and positive evaluation in relation to social anxiety became increasingly stronger at higher levels of SCT. Conversely, the interactions between fears of negative and positive evaluation with ADHD inattentive symptoms were non-significant. These results are the first to report that self-reported SCT, but not ADHD inattentive symptoms, exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety, and suggest that attentional difficulties characteristic of SCT may prolong engagement in fears.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.08.030

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Claims the paper makes

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  • Findingown data

    For fear of positive evaluation, the association with social anxiety symptoms became stronger at higher levels of SCT.

    “In both instances, the associations between fears of negative and positive evaluation in relation to social anxiety became increasingly stronger at higher levels of SCT.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For fear of negative evaluation, the association with social anxiety symptoms became stronger at higher levels of SCT.

    “simple slope analyses showed that the relation between fear of negative evaluation and social anxiety symptoms became increasingly stronger at higher levels of SCT (low SCT, b = .40; mean SCT, b = .42, high SCT, b = .44, ps < .001).”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “In both instances, the associations between fears of negative and positive evaluation in relation to social anxiety became increasingly stronger at higher levels of SCT.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The fear of negative evaluation by SCT interaction remained significant after removing the non-significant fear of negative evaluation by ADHD inattention interaction.

    “After removing the non-significant two-way interaction with ADHD inattention, the SCT and fear of negative evaluation interaction remained significant.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    SCT symptoms were significantly moderately correlated with greater social anxiety symptoms.

    “As expected, SCT and ADHD inattentive symptoms were significantly moderately correlated with greater fear of negative evaluation, fear of positive evaluation, and social anxiety symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Fear of positive evaluation was strongly associated with greater social anxiety symptoms.

    “Replicating past research, fears of negative and positive evaluation were moderately interrelated and each was strongly associated with greater social anxiety symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 45
  • May combine two claims. 29

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    Findingown data

    Race was unrelated to social anxiety symptoms.

    “Age and race were both unrelated to social anxiety symptoms and not considered in primary analyses.”
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    Findingown data

    Age was unrelated to social anxiety symptoms.

    “Age and race were both unrelated to social anxiety symptoms and not considered in primary analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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    Findingown data

    SCT and ADHD inattentive symptoms were each independently correlated with greater self-reported fears of negative evaluation, fears of positive evaluation, and social anxiety symptoms.

    “A similar pattern of correlational results emerged such that SCT and ADHD inattentive symptoms were both independently correlated with greater self-reported fears of negative evaluation, fears of positive evaluation, and social anxiety symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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    Study design and conductown data

    Female sex and ADHD hyperactive/impulsive symptoms were included as covariates in the moderation analyses.

    “However, identifying as female and self-reported ADHD hyperactive/impulsive symptoms were both significantly correlated with greater self-reported social anxiety symptoms and were thus included as covariates in moderation analyses.”
    • Also stated in: § Present Study · hedged
      “We controlled for hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms across analyses as some studies have found relations with social anxiety (Sobanski et al., 2007) and task-unrelated thoughts (Lanier et al., 2019), suggesting that hyperactivity/impulsivity may also contribute to interactions between fears and social anxiety symptoms.”
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    • cites Lanier et al., 2019

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    Study design and conductown data

    The Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale showed high internal consistency in the current sample (α = .84).

    “Internal consistency in the present study was high (α = .84).”
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    Premisecitation

    The 8 non-reverse-scored Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation items have strong reliability and validity.

    “Originally a 12-item scale, recent research has shown strong reliability and validity for the 8 non-reverse scored items (Rodebaugh et al., 2004).”
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    • cites Rodebaugh et al., 2004 source

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    Premisecitation

    The relation between social anxiety symptoms and attentional disengagement from socially threatening cues during a modified dot probe task was most pronounced for individuals with self-reported poor attentional shifting.

    “In addition to being correlated with elevated social anxiety symptoms, a recent study found that the relation between social anxiety symptoms and attentional disengagement from socially-threatening cues during a modified dot probe task was most pronounced for individuals with self-reported poor attentional shifting (e.g., efficiently shifting attention across tasks) (Taylor et al., 2016).”
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    Interpretationcitation

    SCT symptoms, more than ADHD inattentive symptoms, are marked by more mind-wandering and rumination, which are key cognitive processes underpinning internalizing psychopathologies.

    “Collectively, these findings indicate that SCT symptoms, more so than ADHD inattentive symptoms, are marked by more mind-wandering and rumination, which are considered key cognitive processes underpinning internalizing psychopathologies (Marchetti et al., 2016).”
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    Study design and conductown data

    The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale showed excellent internal consistency in the current sample (α = .92).

    “In the present study, internal consistency was excellent (α = .92).”
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    Study design and conductown data

    The Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale showed good internal consistency in the current sample (α = .82).

    “hyperactivity/impulsivity (9 items; e.g., “I fidget with hands or feet or squirm in seat; α = .82).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale showed excellent internal consistency in the current sample (α = .96).

    “Internal consistency in the present study was excellent (α = .96).”
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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale has documented strong internal consistency, factorial validity, and convergent validity with other social anxiety measures in young adults.

    “The SIAS has documented strong internal consistency, factorial validity, and convergent validity with other measures of social anxiety across young adult samples (Weeks et al., 2008).”
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    • cites Weeks et al., 2008 source

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    Premisecitation

    ADHD inattention symptoms are consistently linked with daily life executive functioning deficits, neuropsychological indicators of executive functioning difficulties, and academic impairment.

    “and are consistently linked with daily life executive functioning deficits (Becker et al., 2011), neuropsychological indicators of executive functioning difficulties (Kofler et al., 2019), and academic impairment (Dvorsky & Langberg, 2019).”
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    • cites Becker et al., 2011

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    • cites Kofler et al., 2019 source

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    • cites Dvorsky & Langberg, 2019

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    Study design and conductown data

    The Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV inattention subscale showed good internal consistency in the current sample (α = .89).

    “inattention (9 items; e.g., “I have difficulty organizing tasks and activities; α = .89)”
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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The Adult Concentration Inventory has demonstrated strong internal consistency and discriminative validity in multiple college student samples.

    “The ACI has demonstrated strong internal consistency and discriminative validity with other psychopathologies in multiple samples of college students (Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018; Fredrick et al., 2018).”
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    • cites Fredrick et al., 2018 source

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    Premisecitation

    The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale has demonstrated strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and discriminative validity from the Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale.

    “The BFNE has demonstrated strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and discriminative validity from the Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale (Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020; Weeks et al., 2005).”
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    • cites Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020

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    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study used an instructional manipulation check, trap questions, and effort questions to improve response quality.

    “An instructional manipulation check (IMC), trap questions, and questions measuring participants’ effort were used throughout the survey to improve quality of responses.”
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    Study design and conductown data

    Participants who did not meet the data quality threshold (at least 50% trap accuracy and self-reported effort of 5 or higher) were removed; 4,756 of 5,053 (94%) remained.

    “Of the 5,053 participants who completed the survey, 297 (6%) did not meet the threshold criteria for the trap questions and were removed from data analyses. The remaining 4,756 (94%) participants met criteria and were included for the current study.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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    Premisecitation

    ADHD inattentive symptoms have stronger associations with social anxiety, fear, and social avoidance than hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms.

    “with recent evidence documenting stronger associations between ADHD inattentive symptoms with social anxiety, fear, and social avoidance compared to hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (Koyuncu et al., 2019).”
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    • cites Koyuncu et al., 2019 source

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    Premisecitation

    Above and beyond ADHD inattentive symptoms, SCT symptoms are associated with greater academic impairment, poorer daily life functioning, and increased suicide risk in college students.

    “Specifically, above and beyond ADHD inattentive symptoms, SCT symptoms have been associated with college students experiencing greater academic impairment (Becker, Langberg, et al., 2014), poorer daily life functioning (Flannery et al., 2017; Wood et al., 2017), and increased suicide risk (Becker, Holdaway, et al., 2018).”
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    • cites Becker, Langberg, et al., 2014

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    • cites Flannery et al., 2017 source

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    • cites Wood et al., 2017 source

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    Study design and conductown data

    The Adult Concentration Inventory showed excellent internal consistency in the current sample (α = .90).

    “In the current study, internal consistency was excellent (α = .90).”
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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    SCT symptoms are concurrently associated with more internalizing symptoms, general social impairment, social withdrawal, and behavioral inhibition sensitivity in college students, even when controlling for ADHD inattentive symptoms.

    “For instance, SCT symptoms have been concurrently associated with more internalizing symptoms (Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018; Becker, Langberg, et al., 2014), general social impairment (Flannery et al., 2017), social withdrawal (Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018), and behavioral inhibition sensitivity (Becker, Schmitt, et al., 2018), even when controlling for ADHD inattentive symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018

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    • cites Becker, Langberg, et al., 2014

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    Premisecitation

    Studies have reported strong associations between self-reported attentional difficulties and greater rumination, fears, worry, and internalizing symptoms.

    “In line with this possibility, studies have reported strong associations between self-reported attentional difficulties and greater rumination, fears, worry, and internalizing symptoms (Devito et al., 2019; Hsu et al., 2015; Williams et al., 2017).”
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    • cites Devito et al., 2019 source

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    • cites Hsu et al., 2015 source

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    • cites Williams et al., 2017 source

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    Premisecitation

    Sluggish cognitive tempo is empirically distinct from ADHD inattention and independently associated with internalizing psychopathologies and psychosocial impairment across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

    “Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT), characterized by excessive daydreaming, mind-wandering, confusion or fogginess, and staring behaviors, is empirically distinct from ADHD inattention and independently associated with internalizing psychopathologies and domains of psychosocial impairment across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood (for a review, see (Becker et al., 2016).”
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    • cites Becker et al., 2016 source

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    Premisecitation

    The Adult Concentration Inventory is an adult self-report measure with 10 items statistically distinct from ADHD inattentive and internalizing symptoms.

    “The ACI is an adult self-report measure that includes 10 items shown to be statistically distinct from both ADHD inattentive and internalizing symptoms (Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018

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    Premisecitation

    The 8-item Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale has documented strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity with positivity impairments, and discriminative validity from fear of negative evaluation across adult samples.

    “The 8-item FPES has documented strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity with positivity impairments, and discriminative validity from FNE across several adult samples (Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020; Rodebaugh et al., 2012).”
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    • cites Rodebaugh et al., 2012

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    Premisecitation

    ADHD inattention symptoms are marked by poor sustained attention, distractibility, forgetfulness, and disorganization.

    “Specifically, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) inattention symptoms are marked by poor sustained attention, distractibility, forgetfulness, and disorganization (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), and are consistently linked with daily life executive functioning deficits (Becker et al., 2011), neuropsychological indicators of executive functioning difficulties (Kofler et al.,”
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    • cites American Psychiatric Association, 2013

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    Premisecitation

    The Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV subscales have well-supported internal consistency and test-retest reliability in young adults.

    “These subscales have well supported internal consistency and test-retest reliability in young adults samples (Barkley, 2012).”
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    • cites Barkley, 2012 source

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    Premisecitation

    Rumination and mind-wandering are both considered types of thoughts unrelated to the current task.

    “Given that rumination and mind-wandering, albeit distinct in valence and cognitive constraint (e.g., mind-wandering may be more spontaneous than rumination), are both considered types of thoughts that are unrelated to the current task (Christoff et al., 2016)”
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    Premisecitation

    During adolescence, fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms increase due to greater salience and influence of peer relationships.

    “Specifically, adolescence is a developmental period characterized by a rise in fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms as a result of increased salience and influence of peer relations (Spence & Rapee, 2016).”
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    Premisecitation

    SCT might involve excessive internal distractibility or be a pathological form of mind-wandering.

    “These initial findings are in line with researchers’ proposals that SCT may be characterized by excessive internal distractibility (Adams et al., 2010) or represent a pathological form of mind-wandering (Barkley, 2014; Becker, Marshall, et al., 2014).”
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    • cites Barkley, 2014 source

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    • cites Becker, Marshall, et al., 2014

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    Interpretationreasoning

    Features of SCT may further worsen the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety during adolescence, leading to considerable social impairment.

    “Thus, it is possible that features of SCT (i.e., mind-wandering, lethargic behaviors) may further exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety during adolescence, resulting in considerable social impairment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Stronger relations between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety would elevate distress, such as negative affect and social avoidance.

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    Interpretationreasoning

    Fears of negative and positive evaluation represent key cognitive processes that increase social anxiety symptoms and co-occurring psychosocial difficulties.

    “Taken together, fears of negative and positive evaluation represent key cognitive processes that increase social anxiety symptoms and co-occurring psychosocial difficulties.”
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    Study design and conductcitation

    The data quality threshold used in the study has been used in previous college student samples and is intended to identify sufficient effort without excluding participants with occasional attentional lapses.

    “The same threshold has been used in previous college student samples (Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018), and is intended to identify participants who put forth sufficient effort while not excluding participants with occasional attentional lapses.”
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    • cites Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018

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    Premisecitation

    Attentional difficulties are linked to greater threat-related attentional biases, fears, and internalizing symptoms.

    “Although prior research had shown that attentional difficulties are associated with increased threat-related attentional biases, fears, and internalizing symptoms (Hsu et al., 2015; Koster et al., 2011; Van Bockstaele et al., 2014)”
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    • cites Hsu et al., 2015 source

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    Premisecitation

    Cognitive-behavioral models highlight fears of negative and positive evaluation as co-occurring cognitive processes in social anxiety.

    “Cognitive-behavioral models highlight fears of negative and positive evaluation as co-occurring cognitive processes in social anxiety (Weeks & Howell, 2012), and these fears have been consistently associated with social anxiety symptoms in adults (Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020).”
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    • cites Weeks & Howell, 2012

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    Premisenone given

    Recent evidence suggests that other cognitive factors, like attention difficulties, may exacerbate the relation between fears and symptomatology.

    “However, despite replicated evidence linking fears of negative and positive evaluation to social anxiety, recent evidence suggests that other cognitive factors, like attention difficulties, may exacerbate the relation between fears and symptomatology.”
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    Study design and conductnone given

    The study had a large sample size from multiple universities.

    “Despite strengths of the current study, including the large sample size from multiple universities”
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    Premisecitation

    Cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety focuses on reducing maladaptive attentional processes tied to fears of social evaluation via cognitive restructuring and exposure.

    “Cognitive-behavioral treatments for social anxiety prioritize reducing maladaptive attentional processes related to fears of social evaluation through cognitive restructuring and exposure-based techniques (Spence & Rapee, 2016).”
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    • cites Spence & Rapee, 2016

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    Premisecitation

    Other cognitive processes, including self-focused attention, threat-related attention biases, and post-event rumination, have been implicated in social anxiety.

    “research has identified other cognitive processes implicated in social anxiety, such as self-focused attention, threat-related attention biases, and post-event rumination (Spence & Rapee, 2016).”
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    • cites Spence & Rapee, 2016

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    Study design and conductnone given

    The study was approved by each university's local Institutional Review Board.

    “The study was approved by each university’s local Institutional Review Board (IRB).”
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    Premisecitation

    Fears of social evaluation are key cognitive features of social anxiety.

    “which is consistent with a large body of evidence documenting fears of social evaluation as key cognitive features in social anxiety (Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020; Weeks & Howell, 2012).”
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    • cites Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020

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    • cites Weeks & Howell, 2012

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    Premisecitation

    SCT increases from childhood to adolescence.

    “Additionally, research finds that SCT increases from childhood to adolescence (Leopold et al., 2016).”
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    • cites Leopold et al., 2016 source

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    Premisecitation

    Fear of negative evaluation is the primary symptom cluster in social anxiety disorder diagnosis and a hallmark cognitive feature across theoretical models of social anxiety.

    “Fears of negative evaluation, or the fear of being criticized, humiliated, or rejected, is the primary symptom cluster in the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and is recognized as the hallmark cognitive feature across theoretical models of social anxiety (Spence & Rapee, 2016).”
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    • cites American Psychiatric Association, 2013

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    Interpretationreasoning

    These unique attentional difficulties may lead individuals to become stuck and fixate on fears of social evaluation, which may worsen social anxiety symptoms.

    “Potentially, these unique attentional difficulties may predispose individuals into getting “stuck” and fixating on fears of social evaluation, which may exacerbate relations with social anxiety symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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    Premisecitation

    Individuals with social anxiety fear any type of evaluation, regardless of valence.

    “In addition to fears of negative evaluation, research over the past decade reports that individuals with social anxiety fear any type of evaluation, regardless of the valence of these evaluations (Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fredrick & Luebbe, 2020

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    Interpretationown data

    SCT may be a unique cluster of attentional difficulties that prolongs engagement with fears of social evaluation and increases social anxiety symptoms.

    “Nevertheless, findings suggest that SCT may represent a unique cluster of attentional difficulties that prolongs engagement with fears of social evaluation and increase symptoms of social anxiety”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Internal task-unrelated thoughts may increase the risk of exacerbating fears of social evaluation, which may in turn increase social anxiety symptoms.

    “internal task-unrelated thoughts may pose a risk for exacerbating fears of social evaluation, which, in turn, may increase social anxiety symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Because the data are cross-sectional, causal inferences cannot be made.

    “First, the cross-sectional nature of the data precludes inferences regarding causality”
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    Premisecitation

    ADHD inattention may be characterized by difficulties re-engaging attention following external distractions.

    “whereas ADHD inattention may be characterized by difficulties re-engaging attention following external distractions (Adams et al., 2010).”
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    • cites Adams et al., 2010 source

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    Premisecitation

    SCT might have transdiagnostic value in the development, maintenance, and psychosocial impairments of internalizing psychopathology.

    “research suggests that SCT may have transdiagnostic utility for contributing to the development, maintenance, and associated psychosocial impairments within the internalizing realm of psychopathology (Becker & Willcutt, 2019).”
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    • cites Becker & Willcutt, 2019 source

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    Interpretationreasoning

    Individuals with SCT symptoms may have persistent task-unrelated thoughts and difficulty disengaging from internal thought content.

    “individuals with SCT symptoms may experience persistent task-unrelated thoughts and difficulties disengaging from internal thought content.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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    Premisecitation

    Numerous studies have found adults' self-reported fear of negative evaluation to be associated with elevated social anxiety symptoms in community and clinical samples.

    “Numerous studies have found adults’ self-reported fear of negative evaluation to be associated with elevated social anxiety symptoms in community (Carleton et al., 2010; Weeks & Howell, 2012) and clinical (Fergus et al., 2009; Weeks et al., 2005) samples.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Carleton et al., 2010 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationcitation

    SCT symptoms may exacerbate relations between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.

    “Consistent with research suggesting that attentional difficulties maintain cognitive processes that increase risk for anxiety development (Derryberry & Reed, 2002), SCT symptoms may exacerbate relations between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Derryberry & Reed, 2002 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    SCT is associated with loneliness, social withdrawal, behavioral inhibition sensitivity, and physiological reactivity to perceived peer rejection in children, adolescents, and college students.

    “These findings converge with past studies in children, adolescent, and college student samples showing SCT to be associated with loneliness (Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018), social withdrawal (Becker, Burns, Leopold, et al., 2018; Marshall et al., 2014), behaviorally inhibition sensitivity (Becker, Schmitt, et al., 2018), and physiological reactivity to perceived peer rejection (Becker & McQu”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Becker, Burns, Garner, et al., 2018

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Becker, Burns, Leopold, et al., 2018

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Becker & McQuade, 2020

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Among college students, social anxiety, fears of social evaluation, and SCT are elevated and linked to various impairments.

    “although social anxiety, fears of social evaluation, and SCT are all elevated in college students and associated with multiple types of impairment (Brook & Willoughby, 2015; Flannery et al., 2017; Lipton et al., 2016; Wood et al., 2017)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Brook & Willoughby, 2015

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Flannery et al., 2017 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Lipton et al., 2016 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    College students reporting high levels of both fears of negative and positive evaluation reported more social anxiety, depression, and psychosocial difficulties than those high in only one fear domain.

    “For instance, college students reporting high levels of both fears of negative evaluation and fears of positive evaluation reported more social anxiety, depression, and psychosocial difficulties compared to individuals reporting high levels in only one fear domain (Lipton et al., 2016).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lipton et al., 2016 source

      Not checked in the free run.

57 of 57

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The cross-sectional associations reflect a temporal or causal process in which SCT exacerbates or prolongs fears and social anxiety.

    “These results are the first to report that self-reported SCT, but not ADHD inattentive symptoms, exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety, and suggest”
    “and suggest that attentional difficulties characteristic of SCT may prolong engagement in fears.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The study had sufficient statistical power to detect ADHD inattention interactions, so the non-significant interactions indicate no effect.

    “Conversely, the interactions between fears of negative and positive evaluation with ADHD inattentive symptoms were non-significant.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No prior study has explored direct associations between SCT and social anxiety symptoms.

    “though no study has explored direct associations with social anxiety symptoms.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The present study is the first to test whether self-reported SCT and/or ADHD inattentive symptoms moderate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.

    “The present study is the first to test whether self-reported SCT and/or ADHD inattentive symptoms moderate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    These results are the first to report that self-reported SCT, but not ADHD inattentive symptoms, exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety.

    “These results are the first to report that self-reported SCT, but not ADHD inattentive symptoms, exacerbate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety, and suggest”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Stronger relations between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety would elevate distress, such as negative affect and social avoidance.

    “although it was assumed that stronger relations between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety would elevate distress (e.g., negative affect and social avoidance)”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    This study is the first to empirically show that SCT symptoms may be an important attentional difficulty cluster to include when examining links between fears and social anxiety symptoms.

    “This study is the first to empirically demonstrate that SCT symptoms may be an important cluster of attentional difficulties to incorporate when exploring the interrelations among fears and social anxiety symptoms.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    To our knowledge, this is the first study to empirically support an association between self-reported SCT symptoms and greater self-reported fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.

    “To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide empirical support that self-reported SCT symptoms are associated with greater self-reported fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The current study's findings are the first to test whether SCT and ADHD inattentive symptoms moderate the link between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.

    “Findings from the current study are the first to test whether SCT and ADHD inattentive symptoms moderate the relation between fears of social evaluation and social anxiety symptoms.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Prior studies used global attention problem measures that did not correspond to attention problems defined by psychopathology constructs like ADHD inattention and SCT.

    “past studies relied on global measures of attention problems that did not map onto attention problems as measured via psychopathology constructs such as ADHD inattention and SCT.”
10 of 10

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The inattention observed in CDS seems to differ qualitatively from that seen in ADHD: in CDS, difficulty maintaining attentional focus is predominantly triggered by internal stimuli, whereas in ADHD, inattention is more strongly influenced by external stimuli from the environment.

    “More specifically, the inattention observed in CDS seems to differ qualitatively from that seen in ADHD. In CDS, the difficulty in maintaining attentional focus is predominantly triggered by internal stimuli. Conversely, in ADHD, inattention is more strongly influenced by external stimuli from the environment [50,51].”

    From Emotional Dysregulation and Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome: Exploring Their Relationship Through the Lens of Twin Studies (2025) · cites this paper as [51]

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

  • Positive-evaluation interaction coefficient and test statistic disagree

    Minor

    Dividing the reported coefficient by its standard error gives a t value of 4.00, not 2.27. Even allowing for rounding to two decimal places, the smallest possible ratio is above 2.27.

    Reported 2.27 · recomputed 4

1 of 1

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References 56 · Cited by 17

Authors
Fredrick, J. W., Becker, S. P., Kofler, M. J., Jarrett, M. A., Burns, G. L., & Luebbe, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
  • Florida State University (US)
  • University of Alabama (US)
  • Washington State University (US)
  • Miami University (US)
Corresponding author
Fredrick, Joseph W.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-12
Volume
131
Pages
39-46
ISSN
0022-3956 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.08.030
PMC
PMC7669641
OpenAlex
W3081736793
Cited by
17
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3
FWCI
1.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Psychiatric Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
social anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, fear of positive evaluation, sluggish cognitive tempo, attention deficits, moderation, university students, psychiatric symptoms
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cognition, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Universities

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-07.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-07.

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