Cumulative genetic effects of HPA axis on social phobia scrutiny fear: psychoticism and social face as mediators.

Background: Social phobia scrutiny fear is a stress response triggered by perceptions of social evaluation. However, the role of genetic polymorphisms in the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis in shaping this fear is not well understood. This study investigates how the cumulative genetic score of the HPA axis influences social phobia scrutiny fear.

Method: Two independent samples were used. The first examined the relationship between the cumulative genetic effects of the HPA axis and social phobia scrutiny fear. The second sample replicated these findings and explored the mediating roles of psychoticism and social face.

Results: Both samples revealed that individuals with a higher cumulative genetic score, associated with increased cortisol reactivity, experienced greater social phobia scrutiny fear. Moreover, psychoticism and social face mediated this relationship, with a stronger genetic predisposition, higher psychoticism, and more pronounced social face correlating with greater scrutiny fear.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the significant role of the HPA axis in social phobia scrutiny fear and shed light on the psychological pathways through which genetic effects are influenced by personality traits.