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<p>Theories of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suggest that worry serves as avoidance from uncomfortable internal states, particularly emotions. Years of research have centralized the role of aversion to emotions, particularly fear of anxiety, in the maintenance of GAD. Existing literature has largely overlooked the role of shame aversion in GAD, despite theoretical ties between self-conscious emotions, particularly shame, and symptoms of GAD. This study examined the associations among worry, shame aversion, and aversion to other emotions (anxiety, depression, anger, and positive emotions) in a sample of individuals screened for GAD. <i>N</i> = 113 individuals completed self-report questionnaires. Shame aversion was significantly positively associated with worry, and with aversion to other emotions. Only shame aversion accounted for unique variance in past-week worry when compared with aversion to other emotions. These findings suggest that shame should be explored and potentially addressed in GAD interventions. Future research should examine the relationship between shame and GAD symptoms using a causal design and may consider evaluating the impacts of existing psychotherapies on shame.</p>

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Shame Aversion Contributes to Worry Above Aversion to Other Emotions in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月29日

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  • Joelle Schaffer,
  • Kathleen Stewart,
  • Melina Ovanessian,
  • Sally Zheng,
  • Naomi Koerner

摘要

Theories of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suggest that worry serves as avoidance from uncomfortable internal states, particularly emotions. Years of research have centralized the role of aversion to emotions, particularly fear of anxiety, in the maintenance of GAD. Existing literature has largely overlooked the role of shame aversion in GAD, despite theoretical ties between self-conscious emotions, particularly shame, and symptoms of GAD. This study examined the associations among worry, shame aversion, and aversion to other emotions (anxiety, depression, anger, and positive emotions) in a sample of individuals screened for GAD. N = 113 individuals completed self-report questionnaires. Shame aversion was significantly positively associated with worry, and with aversion to other emotions. Only shame aversion accounted for unique variance in past-week worry when compared with aversion to other emotions. These findings suggest that shame should be explored and potentially addressed in GAD interventions. Future research should examine the relationship between shame and GAD symptoms using a causal design and may consider evaluating the impacts of existing psychotherapies on shame.