Risk for social anxiety in early adolescence: Longitudinal impact of pubertal development, appearance comparisons, and peer connections


Journal article


R. Rapee, N. Magson, M. Forbes, C. Richardson, C. Johnco, E. Oar, J. Fardouly
Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 154, 2022


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APA   Click to copy
Rapee, R., Magson, N., Forbes, M., Richardson, C., Johnco, C., Oar, E., & Fardouly, J. (2022). Risk for social anxiety in early adolescence: Longitudinal impact of pubertal development, appearance comparisons, and peer connections. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2022.104126


Chicago/Turabian   Click to copy
Rapee, R., N. Magson, M. Forbes, C. Richardson, C. Johnco, E. Oar, and J. Fardouly. “Risk for Social Anxiety in Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Impact of Pubertal Development, Appearance Comparisons, and Peer Connections.” Behaviour Research and Therapy 154 (2022).


MLA   Click to copy
Rapee, R., et al. “Risk for Social Anxiety in Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Impact of Pubertal Development, Appearance Comparisons, and Peer Connections.” Behaviour Research and Therapy, vol. 154, 2022, doi:10.1016/j.brat.2022.104126.


BibTeX   Click to copy

@article{r2022a,
  title = {Risk for social anxiety in early adolescence: Longitudinal impact of pubertal development, appearance comparisons, and peer connections},
  year = {2022},
  journal = {Behaviour Research and Therapy},
  volume = {154},
  doi = {10.1016/j.brat.2022.104126},
  author = {Rapee, R. and Magson, N. and Forbes, M. and Richardson, C. and Johnco, C. and Oar, E. and Fardouly, J.}
}

Abstract

Objectives

The aims of this study were to determine the impact of adolescent-relevant risk factors on changes in social anxiety symptoms from pre-to early-adolescence.

Methods

From 2016 to 2018, 528 youth (51% boys) were tested in three annual waves across grades 6, 7, and 8 (M ages 11.2, 12.7, 13.7 years). Through online surveys youth reported on peer relationships that were combined into two latent factors: 1) appearance comparisons, comprising youth reports of appearance comparisons relative to others in general and while using social media, along with perceived attractiveness; and 2) positive peer connections, comprising youth reports of group affiliation, school belonging, and peer victimisation. Youth and their parents also reported on the youth's level of pubertal development as well as the youth's level of social anxiety using previously validated questionnaires. Social anxiety was also assessed with structured diagnostic interview.

Results

Separate cross-lagged panel models were used to model longitudinal associations between all risk factors and youth, parent, and interviewer-reported measures of social anxiety. Of the associations tested, only appearance comparisons directly predicted increases in social anxiety symptoms 12 months later across all models. More advanced pubertal development was associated with increased appearance comparisons the following year. On the other hand, higher levels of social anxiety predicted subsequent reductions in positive peer connections in parent and interviewer models.

Conclusions

These results highlight the important and interconnected impact of pubertal development and appearance comparisons on both the development of social anxiety symptoms during early adolescence, as well as the social consequences of social anxiety.


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