Childhood trauma and current psychological functioning in adults with social anxiety disorder

Etiological models of social anxiety disorder (SAD) suggest that early childhood trauma contributes to the development of this disorder. However, surprisingly little is known about the link between different forms of childhood trauma and adult clinical symptoms in SAD. This study (1) compared levels of childhood trauma in adults with generalized SAD versus healthy controls (HCs), and (2) examined the relationship between specific types of childhood trauma and adult clinical symptoms in SAD. Participants were 102 individuals with generalized SAD and 30 HCs who completed measures of childhood trauma, social anxiety, trait anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Compared to HCs, individuals with SAD reported greater childhood emotional abuse and emotional neglect. Within the SAD group, childhood emotional abuse and neglect, but not sexual abuse, physical abuse, or physical neglect, were associated with the severity of social anxiety, trait anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.

Research highlights▶ Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) have greater levels of childhood emotional abuse and childhood emotional neglect than healthy controls (HC). There are no between-group differences in levels of childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, or physical neglect. ▶ Within individuals with SAD, childhood emotional abuse and neglect are associated with adult social anxiety severity, general anxiety, depression (neglect only) and self-esteem. ▶ Within individuals with SAD, childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect are not associated with adult social anxiety severity, general anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.