The Link Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Social Anxiety Symptoms: Cognitive Flexibility as a Mediating Factor

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between symptoms of social anxiety and anxiety sensitivity, as well as the role of cognitive flexibility as a mediator.Methods: A total of 552 people between the ages of 18-35, with no history of psychiatric follow-up and treatment, were included in the study. A sociodemographic data form, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory were applied to the participants. Results: It was determined that social anxiety scores were significantly higher in female participants (86.11 ± 23.50) compared to male participants (79.43 ± 26.10) (p < 0.001). There was a positive relationship between social anxiety symptoms and anxiety sensitivity and its subscales (p < 0.001) and a negative relationship with cognitive flexibility (p < 0.001). According to the mediation analysis results, cognitive flexibility mediates 13% of the total effect of anxiety sensitivity on social anxiety symptoms.Conclusion: The findings of the study draw attention to the strong relationship between social anxiety symptoms and anxiety sensitivity and show that cognitive flexibility may be an important mediating mechanism in this process. Accordingly, it is thought that interventions aimed at increasing cognitive flexibility in the treatment of social anxiety may be useful.