The Comparision of Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Flexibility in Nonclinical Sampls of Adolescents with Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder

Two disorders of generalized anxiety and social anxiety are among prevalent disorders in the children and adolescents. The present research conducted with the aim of comparing the difficulties in emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility between adolescence with symptoms of generalized anxiety and social anxiety disorders. In an expo-facto design among high school students of Khorramabad city, two groups were selected based on the cut of point scores of generalized anxiety and social anxiety scales, as well as, psychologist diagnosis. All subjects compared by their scores in difficultiy in emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility scales. Results of a Multivariate Analysis of Variance indicated significant difference in the liner composition of dependent variables of two groups. Univariate analysis of variance also indicated that students with generalized anxiety disorder tend to show more difficulty in emotion regulation strategies, while lack of emotional awareness, as well as, higher levels (less difficulties) of cognitive flexibility (in alternatives) was evedent in social anxiety adolescents.  No other significant differences observed between two groups. Generalized anxiety and social anxiety in adolescents were different in terms of difficulties in emotion regulation, and cognitive flexibility. Hence  evaluation, diagnostic and therapeutic consideratin based on these differences for both disorders seems necessary.