Understanding social anxiety as a risk for alcohol use disorders: Fear of scrutiny, not social interaction fears, prospectively predicts alcohol use disorders

Abstract

Increasing evidence indicates that social anxiety may be a premorbid risk factor for alcohol use disorders (AUD). The aim of this study was to replicate and extend previous work examining whether social anxiety is a risk factor for AUD by evaluating both the temporal antecedence and nonspuriousness of this relationship. We also examined whether social anxiety first-order factors (social interaction anxiety, observation anxieties) served as specific predictors of AUD. A non-referred sample of 404 psychologically healthy young adults (i.e. free from current or past Axis I psychopathology) was prospectively followed over approximately two years. Social anxiety (but not depression or trait anxiety) at baseline significantly predicted subsequent AUD onset. The relationship between social anxiety and AUD remained even after controlling for relevant variables (gender, depression, trait anxiety). Further, social anxiety first-order factors differentially predicted AUD onset, such that observation anxieties (but not social interaction anxiety) were prospectively linked to AUD onset. This study provides further support that social anxiety (and fear of scrutiny specifically) appears to serve as an important and potentially specific AUD-related variable that deserves serious attention as a potential vulnerability factor.

Internet Gaming Disorder Behaviors in Emergent Adulthood: a Pilot Study Examining the Interplay Between Anxiety and Family Cohesion

“…More specifically, results suggested that emergent adult MMO players who reported higher anxiety were inclined to have higher IGD scores. This is in consensus with previous research indicating the role of anxiety as a risk factor for addictions in general (Buckner and Schmidt 2009;Cooper et al 2014;Parhami et al 2014;Sareen et al 2006;Van Der Maas 2016), and for onlinerelated addictive behaviors in particular (Andreassen et al 2016;Lee and Stapinski 2012).…”

“…A significant relationship between anxiety and addictive behaviors, and technological addictions in particular, has been repeatedly demonstrated (Andreassen et al 2016;Buckner and Schmidt 2009;Cooper et al 2014;Essau et al 2014;Lee and Stapinski 2012;Parhami et al 2014;Sareen et al 2006;Van Der Maas 2016). Furthermore, anxiety-related factors such as sensitivity to stress, perceived uncontrollability, and avoidance have also been shown to be associated with addiction severity (Forsyth et al 2003).…”

Social anxiety and alcohol problems: The roles of perceived descriptive and injunctive peer norms

“…To illustrate, compared to those without SAD in adolescence, those with SAD were five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence in young adulthood, even after statistically controlling for other relevant Axis I disorders such as other anxiety disorders and unipolar depression (Buckner et al, 2008). Further, subclinical social anxiety also appears to increase AUD risk (Buckner & Schmidt, 2009;Crum & Pratt, 2001). Thus, identification of factors related to drinking problems among socially anxious individuals remains an important goal, as such factors could be targeted during treatment and prevention efforts.…”

Validación Transcultural del Cuestionario de Habilidades Sociales para Universitarios en Estudiantes Chilenos y Argentinos (CHS-U)

“…A. P. Del Prette & A. Del Prette, 2003). Es en esta etapa que resulta importante que se consoliden los procesos de evolución de la empatía, el respeto por los demás, las relaciones sociales y el liderazgo, que tienen su inicio durante la adolescencia (Martorell, González, Ordoñez, & Gómez, 2011) En este sentido, los resultados de diversas investigaciones indican una alta frecuencia en estudiantes universitarios de problemas interpersonales tales como dificultades para interactuar con el sexo opuesto (Furnham, 1986) Buckner & Schmidt, 2009;Cranford, Eisenberg, & Serras, 2009;O'Grady, Cullum, Armeli, & Tennen, 2011). Sumado a ello, estudios en población chilena evidencian que ciertos rasgos de personalidad disfuncionales, por ejemplo la sumisión, guardan relación con las HHSS específicamente en muestras que reciben tratamiento psicológico durante el primer año de cursado en la Universidad (Saldivia et al, 2015).…”