Are Social and Communication Difficulties a Risk Factor for the Development of Social Anxiety?

Abstract

ObjectiveSocial anxiety (SA) is a common condition associated with social and communication (SC) difficulties in typically developing young people, as well as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whether SC difficulties place children at risk for developing SA is unclear. Using a longitudinal design, the present study aimed to disentangle the relationship between SA symptoms and SC difficulties using a population-based sample of 9,491 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).MethodParent-reported data on SC difficulties and SA symptoms were collected at ages 7, 10, and 13 years. A cross-lagged panel model was used to investigate the longitudinal stability and directional relationship between latent SC difficulties and SA constructs over time.ResultsMore SC difficulties were associated with greater SA symptoms at all ages. Earlier SC difficulties predicted a small but significant amount of variance in later SA symptoms. The reverse relationship from SA to SC difficulties was not observed. The relationship from SC difficulties to SA was strongest from age 7 to 10 years. No sex differences were observed.ConclusionThe evidence suggests that SC difficulties may be an important risk factor for the development of SA. These findings suggest the potential usefulness of incorporating social skills training alongside effective interventions to prevent or alleviate symptoms of SA in childhood.

Biobehavioral composite of social aspects of anxiety in young adults with fragile X syndrome contrasted to autism spectrum disorder

“…Future work that investigates the potential role of the GABA system are needed particularly given its potential as a targeted treatment (Lozano, Hare, & Hagerman, 2014). This is particularly salient given recent evidence that social communication difficulties in a population-based sample predicted elevated features of social anxiety while social anxiety did not predict later social communication symptoms (Pickard, Rijsdijk, Happé, & Mandy, 2017). …”

Evaluating social (pragmatic) communication disorder

“…Fourth, we used a heterogeneous clinical comparison group. In future studies, more focused comparisons should be made, to understand whether SPCD is clearly differentiated from the social difficulties seen in other types of psychopathology, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (St. Pourcain et al., ), conduct problems (Mandy, Skuse, Steer, St Pourcain, & Oliver, ) and social anxiety (Pickard, Rijsdijk, Happé, & Mandy, ).…”

Psychosocial Treatments Targeting Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Review of the Latest Research and Recommended Future Directions

“…Considering the association, though debated, between social communication impairment and anxiety in individuals with ASD [9–10], attention should also be given to underlying mechanisms of social skills training (SST) in treating anxiety and depression in individuals with ASD. SST addresses social processes holistically, integrating didactic lessons, peer modeling, and behavioral rehearsal.…”

“…Although there has been relatively little longitudinal research, prospective studies have shown that social communication impairment, a hallmark feature of ASD, predicts heightened risk of social anxiety longitudinally among typically developing children [9]. One of the few longitudinal studies with children with ASD found that anxiety predicted social communication impairment; however, social communication deficits did not increase risk for anxiety [10].…”