Social Anxiety and Physiological Reactions of Speaking Up in Work Teams
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Sofia Lindsey
Presenter(s): Sofia Lindsey
Employees are expected to participate in and contribute to group discussions as a regular part of their work experience (Marks et al., 2002). Notably, speaking up in group discussions is a socially stressful event, and socially anxious individuals are particularly sensitive to stress reactions (Dickerson & Kemeny, 2004; Gramar et al., 2012). Previous research indicates that higher levels of trait social anxiety contribute to more negative reactions to socially stressful events (Gramar et al., 2012). One potential explanation for this relationship is a heightened physiological response when speaking up. Our current study investigates physiological stress responses as an explanatory mechanism for the relationship between trait social anxiety and negative reactions when speaking up. We collected EKG data from 126 four person teams while they completed a structured decision making task designed to reach a collective consensus. With this data, we will analyze individual heart rate variability (i.e., a physiological indicator of arousal, which can indicate changes in stress levels) to attempt to explain the relationship between trait social anxiety and negative reactions while speaking up in a team. This research contributes to our understanding of how trait social anxiety manifests in both physiological and psychological well being, specifically in the context of group dynamics. As teams are ubiquitous in the workplace (Devine et al., 1999), this research will aid in understanding employee physical and mental health outcomes.