(PS2-47) The Effects of Worry on the Relationship Between Attentional Focus and Social Anxiety

Introduction
Attentional control (AC) is defined as the cognitive ability to regulate and direct one’s attention effectively (Eysenck et al., 2007). Past literature suggests that attentional focus, a function of AC, involves intentionally directing attention toward desired stimuli while avoiding being distracted or shifting focus to irrelevant stimuli (Derryberry & Rothbart, 1988). However, the inability to focus attention on relevant or adaptive stimuli can adversely impact psychopathology, such as social anxiety (SA) and worry (Bögels & Lamers, 2002; Eysenck et al., 2007). For example, heightened attentional focus towards cues perceived as socially threatening may lead to increased levels of SA (Mazidi et al., 2021). Moreover, deficits in attentional focus may be associated with increased worry in anxiety disorders (Armstrong et al., 2011). Thus, an individual’s ability to control their attention may contribute to challenges in processing and managing both SA and worry. Building upon previous research indicating a link between focused attentional control and psychopathology, particularly SA and worry, we examined whether worry mediates the relationship between self-reported perceptions of one’s ability to focus attention and SA symptoms. By examining the potential co-occurrence of worry and SA, we can gain insight into the mechanisms underlying how low attentional control may perpetuate symptoms of SA, such as repetitive thinking. 

Methods
A sample of 39 participants (61% female; M = 19.95 years, SD = 1.73; 82.9% Caucasian; 75.6% % Non-Hispanic/Non-Chicano/Non-Spanish Origin) completed the Attentional Control Scale: Focus Subscale (ACS; Derryberry & Reed, 2002), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS; Mattick & Clarke, 1998), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; Meyer et al., 1990). Regression was used to analyze the hypotheses.

Results 
Regression analysis indicated that attentional focus was a significant predictor of worry, b =.81, SE =.35, 95%CI[.11,1.51], β =.36, p</em> =.025, worry was a significant predictor of SA, b =.50, SE =.24, 95%CI[.01, 1.00], β =.32, p</em> =.044, and attentional focus was a significant predictor of SA, b =1.58, SE =.53, 95%CI[.51, 2.64], β =.44, p</em> =.005. The indirect effect was tested using a percentile bootstrap estimate approach with 5000 samples (Shrout & Bolger, 2002), implemented with the PROCESS macro Version 4.2 beta (Hayes, 2017). These results indicated that the indirect coefficient was significant, b =.40, SE =.22, 95%CI[.02, .90], complete standardized, β =.11.

Discussion
The findings suggest that individuals experiencing difficulties in attentional control are more prone to negative thinking, which serves as a core fear feature for the maintenance of anxiety disorders. Notably, greater attentional focus was associated with lower levels of SA, increased levels of worry were linked to higher levels of SA, and higher levels of attentional focus were associated with lower levels of worry. The data will help support cognitive mechanisms underlying the interplay between focused attentional control, worry, and SA, shedding light on potential avenues for therapeutic interventions and enhancing our understanding of anxiety disorders.