Influence of social stress on risk-taking behavior in adolescents

• Community sample of adolescents grouped into low and high social anxiety groups.
• Groups were compared on changes in performance on a risk task between a social threat condition and a control condition.
• A group by condition interaction was found.
• High Social Anxiety Group showed greater risk-taking behavior in the High Stress Condition compared to Low Stress Condition.
• The low Social Anxiety Group evidenced no difference in the two conditions.

Risk-taking behavior involves making choices with uncertain positive or negative outcomes. Evidence suggests that risk-taking behavior is influenced by emotional state. One such emotional experience is social anxiety, which has been related to both risk-avoidant and risk-seeking decision making. The present study examined a community sample of 34 adolescents grouped into low (Low SA Group) and high (High SA Group) social anxiety (SA). Both groups were compared on changes in performance on a risk taking task (Balloon Analogue Risk Task) between a social threat condition (modified Trier Social Stress Test, High Stress) and a control condition (Low Stress). These conditions were administered on different days, and the order was counterbalanced across subjects. A group × condition interaction revealed that the High SA Group showed greater risk-taking behavior when exposed to the High Stress Condition compared to the Low Stress Condition, while the Low SA Group evidenced no difference between the two conditions. Interpretations for the increased risk behavior under the condition of social stress for those high in social anxiety are discussed as well as implications for understanding the complex relationship between social anxiety and risk behavior.