1. The Relationship between Cultural Self-Construal and Anxiety Symptoms: A Network Analysis Benjamin J. Calebs, B.A. & Cheri A. Levinson, Ph.D. University of Louisville, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Introduction
Figure 2. Anxiety and Subscale Centrality.
Figure 4. Anxiety and Self-Construal Element Centrality.
Figure 1. Anxiety Symptom and Self-Construal Subscale Network.
Betweenness
Closeness
Strength
Betweenness
Closeness
Strength
Self-construal refers to an individual’s set of beliefs concerning the relation between self and other
Self-construal impacts how individuals view themselves and interact with others; has two dimensions (Singelis, 1994)
Interdependence: identification with how one is connected to groups
Independence: identification with how one is unique
Self-construal dimensions are related to different rates of anxiety
Greater interdependent self-construal related to greater anxiety
Greater independent self-construal related to lower anxiety (Essau et al., 2011)
Network analysis can be used to:
Identify core symptoms and symptom relationships that maintain mental disorders
Identify factors that may be associated with mental health outcomes (Boorsboom & Cramer, 2013)
Present study examined the relationship between independent and interdependent self-construal and anxiety symptoms in a diverse undergraduate sample using network analysis
Unimport
Thoughts
Tense
Nervous
Interdep
Indep
Excess Worry
Disturb
Disap-point
Difficul-ties
Unimport Thought
Tense
Stay in groups
Speaking up
Self sacrifice
Self care
Saying no
Reward Comfort
Respect Modesty
Respect Group Dec
Respect Authority
Relations Important
Parental Advice
Others Failure
Other Happiness
Offer seat
Nervous
Lively imagination
Identity
Home and school
Group harmony
Good health
First name
Excessive Worry
Disturb Thoughts
Disappoint
Direct with others
Difficulties
Being unique
Avoid arguments
Act same
Figure 3. Anxiety Symptom and Individual Self-Construal Element Network.
Participants
N = 300 female undergraduate students
Sample was 60.7% European American, 19.3% Asian, 5% Multiracial, 4% African American, 2.7% Hispanic
Mean age = 18.71; SD = 1.05; Range = 17-23
Measures
Results
Singelis Self-Construal Scale (Singelis, 1994)
Twenty-four item self-report measure of self-construal resulting in a subscale for each dimension
Internal consistency was acceptable for the independence subscale (α = .73) but poor for the interdependence subscale (α = .68)
Short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Marteau & Bekker, 1992)
Seven-item self-report measure of state and trait anxiety symptoms
Scale showed good internal consistency (α = .86)
In first network (see Figures 1 and 2):
Core anxiety symptoms included unimportant thoughts, excessive worries, intrusive disappointment thoughts, and feeling overwhelmed by difficulties
Independent self-construal was more central than interdependent self-construal and was negatively associated with anxiety
In second network (see Figures 3 and 4):
Core elements included comfort with speaking up in class (independent) and group harmony importance (interdependent)
Preference for directness (independent), acting same despite group (independent), comfort with rewards (independent), and respect for groups decisions (interdependent) were also central
Data Analytic Procedure
Two glasso networks were constructed:
One with anxiety items and self-construal subscales to examine relation with self-construal dimensions
One with anxiety items and individual self-construal items to examine association with specific self-construal elements
Core elements in the resulting networks were identified using centrality indices
Betweenness
Closeness
Strength
Discussion
Independent self-construal may be associated with reduced anxiety
Specific elements of self-construal (e.g., comfort with speaking in class and valuing group harmony) appear related to anxiety
Network analysis may be useful to:
Highlight associations between aspects of culture (e.g., self-construal) and mental disorder symptoms
Tailor culturally-informed interventions to the specifics of an individual’s cultural identity
Note: For all figures anxiety symptoms are in blue and self-construal elements are in red.