Quality of close relationships and emotional regulation regarding social anxiety

Abstract

Background: The aim of this research is to propose new models in understanding the relationship between social anxiety and experiencing positive and negative emotions and satisfaction with life in general. Its main focus is to explore the roles of different types of close relationships in these models. Subjects and methods: The sample consisted of 521 female students attending University of Rijeka and University of Pula (average age 21.21 years). The participants completed The Big Five Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Social Phobia Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Attitudes Towards Emotional Expression Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Quality of Relationship Inventory and Friendship Quality Questionnaire. The results were processed using the program LISREL 8. Results: Two models have been tested. The first model includes the relationship between both types of social fears, beliefs about expressing emotions, emotional suppression, romantic relationship quality and the frequency of experiencing positive and negative emotions and life satisfaction. The second one included friendship quality, instead of romantic relationship quality. Both models are acceptable and draw out the powerful role of cognition in the aforementioned relations. This is achieved as a result of beliefs about the expression of emotions on other variables, and also confirms the mediatory role such beliefs have on social anxiety and emotional suppression. The models tested show the importance of the type of close relations we are following. Conclusions: The contribution of this research lies in the point that it offers a more detailed insight into the complex relation between social anxiety and the experiencing of emotions, as well as the quality of life in general. This is achieved in the way that structural modeling has captured a part of the mediator mechanisms that have a role in this relation.