TY - JOUR
T1 - Safety behaviours in social anxiety
T2 - An examination across adolescence
AU - Evans, Rachel
AU - Chiu, Kenny
AU - Clark, David M.
AU - Waite, Polly
AU - Leigh, Eleanor
N1 - Funding Information:
David M Clark is funded by the Wellcome Trust [ WT069777 ] and the NIHR [ NF-SI-0512-10132 ]. Polly Waite is funded by an NIHR Postdoctoral Research Fellowship [ PDF-2016-09-092 ]. Eleanor Leigh is funded by the Wellcome Trust [ 102176/Z/13/Z ]. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - Background: Safety behaviours have been shown to be a key maintaining factor in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). In adults, a two-factor structure of safety behaviours reflecting ‘avoidance’ and ‘impression-management’ types has been identified. This has not yet been investigated in adolescents. Aims: We set out to investigate the factor structure of safety behaviours in relation to adolescent social anxiety symptoms and SAD, the extent to which this varies by age, and then to examine the association between the derived factor scores and other social anxiety related phenomena. Method: Questionnaire measures of social anxiety symptoms, cognitions and safety behaviours, peer relationship outcomes, general anxiety and depression were collected from a community sample of 584 younger (11–14 years) and 208 older (16–18 years) adolescents, and a clinical sample of 80 adolescents (11–18 years) with a primary diagnosis of SAD. Four hypotheses were investigated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, regressions, correlations and path analyses. Results: A two-factor structure reflecting ‘avoidance’ and ‘impression-management’ safety behaviours was supported in the community and clinical sample. Older adolescents were found to use ‘impression-management’ behaviours more than younger adolescents after controlling for overall safety behaviour score. Both types of safety behaviour were significantly positively associated with social anxiety symptoms and cognitions. Path analyses revealed an indirect effect of social anxiety symptoms on peer victimisation, social satisfaction and friendship quality via ‘avoidance’, but not ‘impression-management’ safety behaviours. Conclusions: Both ‘avoidance’ and ‘impression-management’ safety behaviours are associated with social anxiety symptoms and cognitions in youth, with age-related differences in their frequency. ‘Avoidance’ behaviours are specifically associated with negative outcomes for quality of peer relationships.
AB - Background: Safety behaviours have been shown to be a key maintaining factor in Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). In adults, a two-factor structure of safety behaviours reflecting ‘avoidance’ and ‘impression-management’ types has been identified. This has not yet been investigated in adolescents. Aims: We set out to investigate the factor structure of safety behaviours in relation to adolescent social anxiety symptoms and SAD, the extent to which this varies by age, and then to examine the association between the derived factor scores and other social anxiety related phenomena. Method: Questionnaire measures of social anxiety symptoms, cognitions and safety behaviours, peer relationship outcomes, general anxiety and depression were collected from a community sample of 584 younger (11–14 years) and 208 older (16–18 years) adolescents, and a clinical sample of 80 adolescents (11–18 years) with a primary diagnosis of SAD. Four hypotheses were investigated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, regressions, correlations and path analyses. Results: A two-factor structure reflecting ‘avoidance’ and ‘impression-management’ safety behaviours was supported in the community and clinical sample. Older adolescents were found to use ‘impression-management’ behaviours more than younger adolescents after controlling for overall safety behaviour score. Both types of safety behaviour were significantly positively associated with social anxiety symptoms and cognitions. Path analyses revealed an indirect effect of social anxiety symptoms on peer victimisation, social satisfaction and friendship quality via ‘avoidance’, but not ‘impression-management’ safety behaviours. Conclusions: Both ‘avoidance’ and ‘impression-management’ safety behaviours are associated with social anxiety symptoms and cognitions in youth, with age-related differences in their frequency. ‘Avoidance’ behaviours are specifically associated with negative outcomes for quality of peer relationships.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Safety behaviours
KW - Social anxiety
KW - Social anxiety disorder
KW - Youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85110685974&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103931
DO - 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103931
M3 - Article
C2 - 34298437
AN - SCOPUS:85110685974
SN - 0005-7967
VL - 144
JO - Behaviour Research and Therapy
JF - Behaviour Research and Therapy
M1 - 103931
ER -
