If you struggle with social anxiety, you might have found new challenges arising since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. You are not alone in this experience, and there are ways to help. A new scientific review provided by the journal Anxiety, Stress & Coping explains possible ways socially anxious people might have experienced heightened symptoms over the last year.
In early 2020, governments and health officials encouraged (or required) individuals in public spaces to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Naturally, this had a noticeable effect, specifically on those with social anxiety, but it is still unclear how exactly. Study authors Moscovitch and Sidney conducted a review to dissect three aspects of social anxiety that seemed to be affected by mask wearing: hypersensitivity to social norms, a propensity for self-concealment, and biases in social and emotional feedback.
According to the study authors, “Research has shown that social anxiety is driven by the desire to behave in ways that conform to perceived social norms in order to avoid negative evaluation from others. When it comes to mask wearing, social norms around how we are expected to behave have begun to shift and are often unclear or uncertain.” It was discovered that this issue could be heightened for people with higher social anxiety due to the fact that shifting norms increases the fear of making a mistake and being negatively perceived by others.
This study also explains that people with social anxiety are more likely to conceal information about themselves, including indications of their own anxiety. Many socially anxious people noted that masks are a good way to be able to hide perceived flaws without drawing attention to themselves. Moscovitch and Sidney explained to PsyPost, “Our review also suggested that people who struggle with social anxiety may feel reluctant to take their masks off even if it’s crystal clear in certain contexts that masks are unnecessary, because masks may have made them feel safe during the pandemic, not only as a way to prevent contagion but as a way of concealing their visible signs of anxiety or perceived flaws in physical appearance. Without the mask, they may experience greater fears that those flaws will be on full display again for other people to judge them.”
Previous research has shown that socially anxious people have a harder time detecting social cues that are ambiguous, and they are more likely to perceive them negatively. This adds new challenges when interacting with people wearing masks. Those with higher levels of social anxiety might be tempted to keep wearing their mask, but concealed facial features will make it even more difficult to identify facial cues and help understand one's emotions. This can lead to more second guessing and anxiety in social settings.
Socially anxious individuals might have found comfort in the isolation of quarantine, but engaging in excessive social isolation could exacerbate anxiety. Anxious people have a tendency to avoid, and for the last year we have been given permission to avoid. Coming out of this period and learning to adjust back into having a social life may feel anxiety provoking. The study authors comment, “Our advice is ‘as long as it’s safe to be with others, don’t avoid it.” As long as public health guidelines allow for it, people should try to push themselves to get out there and be social again. Try to do something social every day, intentionally. Expect that it may be hard, so begin by easing into this challenge and starting small, for example by making eye contact with others and smiling.”
This review helps provide clinicians insight on how the last year might be impacting patients with social anxiety. However, it is important to note that Moscovitch and Sidney emphasised that more research into this specific issue is needed to continue providing patients with the best care. If you are experiencing social anxiety, don’t be afraid to reach out to a mental health professional to help with this new adjustment.