Generalization of dysregulated empathy from significant others to acquaintances links attachment insecurity to social anxiety disorder

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dc.abstract.enThe psychological mechanisms linking attachment insecurity to social anxiety disorder (SAD) are not fully understood. We propose an empathy-based schema generalization model, positing that the association between attachment insecurity and SAD is explained by dysregulated empathy toward significant others, with these patterns generalizing to new relationships. Across four studies (N = 952) with international, Turkish, and Polish samples (including a clinical group), participants brought to mind a significant other and an acquaintance before reporting empathy toward each. For attachment anxiety, the association with SAD was sequentially mediated by higher personal distress toward a significant other and lower self-compassion. For attachment avoidance, the association was mediated by lower empathic concern toward a significant other. Crucially, these mediational pathways were specific to significant others and held after adjusting for empathy toward acquaintances. Supporting the generalization hypothesis, attachment insecurities were associated with empathy toward acquaintances indirectly, through their association with empathy toward significant others. In the clinical sample, the indirect effect of attachment avoidance on SAD via empathic concern toward a significant other was moderated by self-compassion and socioeconomic status, revealing a key boundary condition. This research illuminates how relational schemas of empathy, rooted in close bonds, are linked to social fears.
dc.affiliationDepartment of Psychology
dc.contributor.authorEcer, Emrullah
dc.contributor.authorBarut, Muazzez Deniz
dc.contributor.authorMatos, Safira
dc.contributor.authorBadillo Sarabia, Vera
dc.contributor.authorÖzalp, Ekin
dc.contributor.authorHellenbrand, Samantha
dc.contributor.authorZielińska, Karolina
dc.contributor.authorNaz Tomruk, Cemre
dc.date.access2027-01-14
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-16T12:42:07Z
dc.date.available2026-03-16T12:42:07Z
dc.date.created2026-01-07
dc.description.accesstimeafter_publication
dc.description.physical1-35
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.versionfinal_author
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/15298868.2026.2616261
dc.identifier.eissn1529-8876
dc.identifier.issn1529-8868
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2220
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15298868.2026.2616261
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_REPOSITORY
dc.subject.enAttachment anxiety
dc.subject.enattachment avoidance
dc.subject.ensocial anxiety disorder
dc.subject.enpersonal distress
dc.subject.enempathic concern
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleGeneralization of dysregulated empathy from significant others to acquaintances links attachment insecurity to social anxiety disorder
dc.title.journalSelf and Identity
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle