HSAs performed marginally worse than LSAs on the MIE on neutrally valenced trials, and their pattern of errors may be consistent with a negative interpretation bias. HSAs and LSAs did not differ overall in performance on the MASC, though HSAs reported experiencing more confusion and distress than LSAs during the task, and this distress was associated with more MASC errors for HSA participants only. These results provide insight into the nature of ToM ability in socially anxious individuals and highlight important avenues for future research.

Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SADs; n = 41) and healthy controls (HCs; n = 40) were administered the Waterloo Images and Memories Interview, in which they described mental images that they tend to experience in both anxiety-provoking and non-anxiety-provoking social situations. Participants then recalled, in as much detail as possible, specific autobiographical memories of salient aversive and non-aversive social experiences that they believed led to the formation of these images. Audio-recorded memory narratives were transcribed and coded based on the procedure of the Autobiographical Interview, which provides a precise measure of the degree of episodic detail contained within each memory. Participants also rated the subjective properties of their recalled memories. Results revealed that participants across the two groups retrieved equivalent rates of both aversive and non-aversive social memories. However, SAD participants' memories of aversive events contained significantly more episodic detail than those of HCs, suggesting that they may be more highly accessible. Moreover, participants with SAD appraised their memories of aversive experiences as more distressing and intrusive than HCs, and perceived them as having a significantly greater influence on their self-perception. In contrast, no group differences were observed for memories of non-aversive events. Findings have the potential to shed new light on autobiographical memory in SAD, with implications for psychotherapeutic intervention.

This study explores associations between symptoms of social anxiety (SA) and depression with participants' extent of dating app use, self-reported motivations for dating app use, and likelihood of initiating interaction with dating app matches. Three-hundred seventy-four participants completed an online battery of surveys that examined psychopathology and dating app use. SA and depression symptoms were positively associated with participants' extent of dating app use, and symptoms of psychopathology and gender interacted to predict various dating app use motivations. Symptoms of SA and depression predicted lower likelihood of initiating contact with a dating app match among men but not women. This study provides an initial step toward understanding the relationship between SA, depression, and use of dating apps.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to a global increase in mental health problems including "COVID-19 anxiety," the presence of dysfunctional anxiety about the novel coronavirus (e.g., fear of contracting or spreading the virus). The present study investigated potential moderators of the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and (a) daily functioning and (b) quality of life, to determine which individuals are most susceptible to these negative outcomes. Intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control were examined as possible moderators. This study recruited 193 Canadian adults using crowdsourcing platforms during the third wave of COVID-19. Participants completed online questionnaires assessing demographics and the constructs of interest. Regression analyses found that neither intolerance of uncertainty nor health locus of control significantly moderated the relationships between COVID-19 anxiety and daily functioning. However, both intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control were significant moderators between COVID-19 anxiety and quality of life. These findings extend past research by emphasizing the need to target specific risk factors, such as intolerance of uncertainty and health locus of control, in therapeutic settings to better support individuals' quality of life during this difficult and unpredictable time. Public Significance StatementHigh coronavirus disease (COVID) anxiety during Canada's third wave of the pandemic was associated with reduced quality of life in individuals. Specific risk factors such as intolerance of uncertainty and internal health locus of control resulted in a greater vulnerability to the psychological consequences of COVID-19. These findings highlight potential areas for clinical intervention to support Canadians suffering during and after the pandemic.