Factor Structure of the Spanish version of the Thought-Action Fusion Scale (TAFS) for Mexican population

Background: Several cognitive constructs, including fear of negative evaluation (FNE), fear of positive evaluation (FPE), and repetitive negative thinking (RNT), are associated with anxiety and depression (McLaughlin & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2011; Weeks, 2015). Moreover, lower heart rate variability (HRV) has been linked to depression (Schiweck et al., 2019) and RNT (Ottaviani et al., 2016), and FPE has been found to uniquely predict increases in heart rate during a speech task (Weeks & Zoccola, 2015). However, research examining these constructs and physiological response to receiving social feedback is limited. Consequently, the present study explored the impact of FNE, FPE, RNT, and depressive symptoms on physiological response to social feedback. Method: Participants were 48 undergraduates (Mean Age = 20.66, SD = 2.91) who completed questionnaires assessing FNE (Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale; Leary, 1983), FPE (Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale; Weeks, Heimberg, & Rodebaugh, 2008), trait RNT (Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire-10; McEvoy, Mahoney, & Moulds, 2010; McEvoy, Thibodeau, & Asmundson, 2014), and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [Radloff, 1977] and Beck Depression Inventory [Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979]; z-scored and averaged together). In addition, participants completed the Chatroom Interact task, which delivers simulated acceptance and rejection from peers, while physiological data, including electrocardiogram data, were acquired. Results: Participants' HRV significantly increased from acceptance (M = 8.17, SD = .92), t(44) = 2.28, p < .05, and rejection (M = 8.13, SD = 1.08) phases, t(44) = 3.00, p < .01, to the neutral motor match condition (M = 8.40, SD = 1.00). There were no significant differences between participants' HRV during rejection and acceptance or participants' RSA during motor match (M = 6.65, SD = 1.00), acceptance (M = 6.74, SD = .92), and rejection (M = 6.67, SD =1.06), ps >.05. A series of repeated- measures general linear models were used with condition (Motor Match, Acceptance, and Rejection) as the within-subjects variables and FNE, FPE, RNT, and depressive symptoms as the between-subjects variables. Results suggested significant interactions between condition and FPE, RNT, and depressive symptoms. Follow- up correlational analyses indicated that RNT and depressive symptoms were associated with less change in HRV from acceptance (rs = -.32 and -.30, respectively) and rejection (rs = -.31 and -.37, respectively) to motor match, ps < .05. In addition, FPE was associated with less change in HRV from acceptance to motor match (r = -.30, p < .05). There were no significant associations between FNE and physiological response to social feedback. Conclusion: This study suggests that the Chatroom Interact task may be used to examine physiological response to social feedback and that psychological symptoms may be related to this response.