A Multi-Method Analysis of the Role of Social Safety Behavior in Loneliness

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.