title: When social anxiety co-occurs with substance use: does an impulsive social anxiety subtype explain this unexpected relationship?
abstract: Although most conceptualizations of social anxiety emphasise that socially anxious individuals are overtly shy, and utilise avoidant behavioural strategies (e.g., risk-aversion, passivity, and submissiveness), there is tentative support for the existence of an approach-motivated subtype, characterised by risk taking and a greater propensity for substance misuse. It is likely that this subtype may help explain the reported co-occurrence of substance misuse and social anxiety. The current study sought to test via latent class analysis whether an approach-motivated social anxiety subtype could be identified within a community sample. A self-report questionnaire was completed by 351 participants (age: 18-74 years). Two distinct social anxiety subgroups were identified: one characterised by prototypical SAD symptomatology (i.e., behavioural inhibition and risk-avoidance), the second by elevated levels of rash impulsiveness, reward sensitivity, risk-taking and co-occurring substance use problems. The current findings provides support for the existence of a distinct approach-motivated social anxiety subtype and indicates that impulsivity may be critical to understanding the comorbid substance use symptomatology of these individuals.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: pstaiger@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Petra Karin
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: James Stephen
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kambouropoulos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol use; Impulsivity; Reward sensitivity; Social anxiety; Substance use