Background
Recent research has found a strong link between loneliness and social
anxiety above and beyond other psychological constructs. Given these strong
relationships, the present study sought to determine if mechanisms that maintain
social anxiety may also play a role in loneliness. Specifically, the present study
used two samples to explore the role of social safety behavior (SBs; behaviors
intended to avoid, prevent, or manage threat) in loneliness.
Methods
In Study 1, we explored this relationship in an unselected sample
(N = 98). In Study 2, participants (N = 132) with elevated social anxiety were randomized to
a two-week SB fading manipulation or a no-instruction control.
Results
SBs were positively associated with loneliness, independent of
co-occurring social anxiety. Further, changes in SBs were associated with changes in
loneliness one-month later, and social anxiety was no longer significantly associated
with loneliness once SBs were entered in these models. SB fading led to significantly
lower loneliness at post-manipulation, relative to the control condition, though this
effect was only found in individuals high in baseline loneliness. Additionally, a
moderated mediation model found that for individuals high in pre-manipulation
loneliness, change in loneliness was accounted for by change in negative
interpretation bias, a key mechanism in both loneliness and social anxiety.
Conclusions
Taken together, these findings indicate that targeting SB may be a
viable method of addressing loneliness, though further research is needed.
