Social Anxiety Predicts Adolescents' Concern for Others’ Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Topic - Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that our well-being depends not only on our own behavior, but also on the actions of others. Those who are less concerned for the safety of others may endanger a considerable portion of society. As such, it is crucial to understand the factors that predict individuals’ concern for others. During the pandemic, adolescents and young adults have often been portrayed as self-centered and as acting in ways that harm the community at large. In contrast, previous studies have found that adults’ worries during the pandemic are empathic, as they are significantly more concerned about others (e.g. family members) contracting COVID-19 than themselves (Barzilay et al., 2020). In looking at why some individuals act more selflessly than others, previous studies have identified social anxiety specifically as a predictor of cognitive empathy and prosocial behaviors (Tibi-Elhanany and Shamay-Tsoory, 2011; Culotta and Goldstein, 2008). This relation is thought to reflect the shared attributes of social anxiety and concern for others; both traits are characterized by hyper-awareness of how one’s actions affect others (Knight et al., 2019).

In the current study, we examine if adolescents (age range = 16-19 years) would display greater concern about others getting sick than themselves. Moreover, we examine if previous reports of social anxiety (age 15 years) would predict adolescents’ levels of concern for others relative to concern for themselves during the pandemic.

Participants were part of a larger longitudinal study (n=291, 53.6% female). Participants self-rated their concerns about contracting COVID-19 themselves and about others (e.g. family and friends) contracting COVID-19 about one month after stay-at-home orders were issued, and while these orders were still in place (n=165). At age 15, participants completed the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (Birmaher et al., 1997).

Results showed that participants worried significantly more for the health of others than for their own health (p<.001). As expected, we also found that social anxiety predicted the extent of this worry pattern, such that those who were more socially anxious as younger adolescents displayed a significantly higher difference between their concerns about friends and family contracting the virus compared to themselves (p<.01). Moreover, examining the specificity of this relation revealed that the same correlation was not present for generalized anxiety. Finally, the relation between social anxiety and concern for others remained significant while controlling for generalized anxiety and other demographics such as gender, SES, and ethnicity.

These results extend findings from adults and demonstrate that, contrary to how they are commonly portrayed, adolescents are more concerned about others than themselves during this health crisis. Additionally, the degree of participants’ other-focused concern relative to self-focused concern was predicted by social anxiety, measured at 15 years of age. Future studies should examine the mechanisms by which fears about the social perceptions of others translates into concern for their health. Understanding why some individuals may be more inclined to care for the safety of others is essential during a pandemic that demands consideration for others.

Authors

• Colin Drexler, University of Maryland - College Park
  Presenting Author

• Santiago Morales, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nicole Elise Lorenzo, American University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Selin Zeytinoglu, University of Maryland - College Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Abby Brustad, University of Maryland - College Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Christine Holm, University of Maryland - College Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nathan A Fox, University of Maryland - College Park
  Non-Presenting Author