Author : Krista D. Gray
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781124594873
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (948 download)
Book Synopsis Establishing the Connection Between Cognitive Distortions Anxiety and Mate Preference by : Krista D. Gray
Download or read book Establishing the Connection Between Cognitive Distortions Anxiety and Mate Preference written by Krista D. Gray and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Traditionally, researchers have focused on identifying characteristics that are considered desirable or ideal in potential mates (e.g., Zentner, 2005), while giving little attention to how forms of psychological distress such as anxiety disorders impact mate preferences. Anxiety disorders are associated with social avoidance, difficulties in communication, and low self-esteem, making it increasingly challenging for individuals with an anxiety disorder to establish and sustain romantic bonds. Despite the adverse impact of anxiety disorders on romantic relationships, researchers have only minimally explored the effects of anxiety on one's mating preferences and one's perceived mate value. Additionally, researchers have not identified the role of cognitive distortions in mate preferences, nor how cognitive distortions moderate the effects of anxiety on mate preference. The following study examined the relationship between anxiety, cognitive distortions, self-perceived mate value, and ideal long-term romantic partner preference. Measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form-Y (Spielberger, 1983), romantic partner preference measures adapted from Regan (1998), and the Cognitive Errors Questionnaire (Lefebvre, 1980). One hundred undergraduate men and women were assessed on these measures. The overall sample demonstrated a preference for ideal long-term partners who were above the 50 th percentile on all mate dimensions. Findings indicated that trait anxiety and gender were predictive of self-perceived mate value but not of ideal long term romantic partner preference. Men rated themselves more favorably than women across all dimensions of self-perceived mate value. Individuals with moderate and severe levels of anxiety reported lower self-perceived mate value on the dimensions of interpersonal skill, physical attractiveness, intelligence, and social status than individuals with no or low levels of anxiety.Cognitive distortions were inversely related to self-perceived mate value ratings with individuals in the moderate and severe anxiety categories reporting a greater number of cognitive distortions than individuals in the low or no anxiety groups. Individuals in the moderate and severe anxiety categories reported a greater tendency to catastrophize and selectively attend to information than individuals in the no or low anxiety categories. Finally, cognitive distortions were associated with a diminished preference for physically attractive ideal long-term romantic partners.