Abstract
The aim of this study was to further our understanding of the link between social anxiety and substance use in adolescents, in particular the role susceptibility to peer pressure plays in this link. The relation between social anxiety and susceptibility to peer pressure was studied in two community samples (n=534 and n=117) each consisting of two age groups (12-13 and 15–17 years). The relation of these two variables with substance use was evaluated in the second sample using regression analysis. Social anxiety was related to susceptibility to peer pressure in both groups and not related to substance use in the younger group and negatively related to substance use in the older group. Susceptibility to peer pressure acted as a suppressor in the relation between social anxiety and substance use. Results suggest that socially anxious adolescents basically avoid substance use but, if susceptible, may yield to peer pressure and start using substances. Parents, teachers, and therapists should be aware of this susceptibility to possibly negative peer pressure of socially anxious adolescents.
Highlights
Previous studies on the relation between social anxiety and substance use in young individuals have yielded ambiguous results with some studies finding a positive relation [1, 2] and others finding no relation or a negative one [3, 4]
The current study aimed to further our insight into the link between social anxiety and substance use in adolescents by evaluating the potential role susceptibility to peer pressure plays in adolescents’ substance use
In line with the results of some studies using children and young adults [3, 4, 21, 49], the present study found a negative association between social anxiety and substance use in older adolescents suggesting that socially anxious youth avoid the use of substances
Summary
Previous studies on the relation between social anxiety and substance use in young individuals have yielded ambiguous results with some studies finding a positive relation [1, 2] and others finding no relation or a negative one [3, 4]. Social anxiety is seen as a continuous variable with some individuals having low or average social anxiety levels and others having high to very high levels [6]. Those who experience life interference because of distress in and avoidance of social situations are diagnosed with SAD. As far as youth is concerned, social fears are part of the normal development of children and adolescents [7] Some of these young individuals are exceptionally anxious and develop high levels of social anxiety or even a social anxiety disorder, most likely in their adolescent years [6]. The number of adolescents with subclinical levels of social anxiety is much larger with percentages varying between 27 and 47% [9, 10]
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