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Cited by 44Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesEmotions and Moral BehaviorChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Social anxiety, submissiveness, and shame in men and women: a moderated mediation analysis

Zimmerman, Jacob, Morrison, Amanda S., Heimberg, Richard G.·2015·British Journal of Clinical Psychology
DOI 10.1111/bjc.12057
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Research suggests a positive relationship between social anxiety and shame; however, few studies have examined this relationship or potential mechanisms. Common behaviours of persons with social anxiety disorder (SAD), such as submissive behaviours, may be more consistent with societal expectations of women than men and therefore more likely to be associated with shame in socially anxious men than women. We examined the hypothesis that submissive behaviours would mediate the relationship between social anxiety and shame in men, but not in women, with SAD. DESIGN: Moderated mediation was examined in a cross-sectional dataset. Gender was modeled to moderate the paths from social anxiety to submissive behaviours and from submissive behaviours to shame. We also examined an alternative model of the relationships among these variables and the potential contributory role of depression. METHODS: Men (n = 48) and women (n = 40) with SAD completed the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Submissive Behaviour Scale, Internalized Shame Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS: Analyses supported the hypothesized model. The relationship between submissive behaviours and shame was greater in men than women with SAD; the relationship between social anxiety and submissive behaviours was not. Controlling for depression, moderation remained evident although diminished. Results for the comparison model did not support gender moderation. CONCLUSIONS: Submissive behaviours mediated the relationship between social anxiety and shame in men, but not women, with SAD. These findings provide preliminary evidence for a model of shame in SAD and may help to further elucidate specific features of SAD that differ between men and women. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Although researchers have argued that the display of submissive behaviours might allow the socially anxious individual to limit or prevent attacks on the self, our results suggest that there are greater costs, with regard to feelings of shame, associated with such behaviours for men. In men with SAD, the greater shame associated with submissive behaviours can be understood when considering that socially anxious individuals appear to be particularly concerned with concealing aspects of the self believed to violate perceived societal norms and that traditional masculine gender roles revolve around the theme of dominance. Because the study was conducted in individuals with SAD, it is possible that the restricted range of social anxiety severity may have precluded the observation of gender differences in the relationship between social anxiety and submissive behaviour. Measures were administered in a cross-sectional design, which limits potential inferences of causality.

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Authors
Zimmerman, J., Morrison, A. S., & Heimberg, R. G.
Affiliations
Temple University (US)
Corresponding author
Heimberg, Richard G.
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of Clinical Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2014-05-28
Volume
54
Issue
1
Pages
1-15
ISSN
  • 0144-6657 (ISSN-L)
  • 2044-8260
DOI
10.1111/bjc.12057
OpenAlex
W1985261814
Cited by
44
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1
FWCI
3.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • British Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
social anxiety disorder, shame, submissiveness, gender differences, moderated mediation, depression, masculinity, gender roles, social expectations, internalized shame
MeSH terms
Adult, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Defense Mechanisms, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Emotions, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Personality Inventory, Phobic Disorders, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Shame, Negotiating, Sex Distribution

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