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Self-Help for Social Anxiety: Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing a Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Approach With a Control Group.

Behavior therapy
July 1, 2019
Nancy L Kocovski et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach for treating social anxiety.

Results Summary

The study found significant improvements in social anxiety, self-compassion, mindfulness, acceptance, and depression, with effect sizes ranging from .74 to .79. A unidirectional model showed that increases in acceptance led to subsequent decreases in social anxiety.

Population

Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness recruited from the community (N = 117 initially, expanded to 93 for additional analyses).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach
decrease
social anxiety outcomes
Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness
between-group effect sizes ranging from .74 to .79
supported the efficacy
#1
a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach
increase
self-compassion
Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness
-
Significant change was observed
#2
a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach
increase
mindfulness
Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness
-
Significant change was observed
#3
a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach
increase
acceptance
Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness
-
Significant change was observed
#4
a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach
decrease
depression
Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness
-
Significant change was observed
#5
a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach
decrease
social anxiety
Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness
-
increases in acceptance were associated with subsequent decreases
#6
Abstract

There are many barriers to the delivery of evidence-based treatment, including geographical location, cost, and stigma. Self-help may address some of these factors but there is a paucity of research on the efficacy of self-help for many problems, including social anxiety. The present research evaluated the efficacy of a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach for the treatment of social anxiety. Individuals seeking help for social anxiety or shyness were recruited from the community. Participants (N = 117) were randomly assigned to a book (n = 58) or wait-list control condition (n = 59) on a 1:1 ratio. Hierarchical linear modelling results supported the efficacy of the self-help condition with between-group effect sizes on social anxiety outcomes ranging from .74 to .79. Significant change was also observed on self-compassion, mindfulness, acceptance, and depression. Some variables, including social anxiety and acceptance, were assessed weekly for those in the book condition. Additional participants (n = 35) were recruited for the book condition increasing the sample size to 93 for the latent change score modelling analyses. A unidirectional model was supported: increases in acceptance were associated with subsequent decreases in social anxiety. Overall these results support the use of a mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help approach for social anxiety.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultAnxietyDepressionEmpathyFemaleHealth BehaviorHumansMaleMindfulnessTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year1.0
Relative Citation Ratio0.59
NIH Percentile32.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score2.08
Normalized Score0.70
Related Supplements
Self-Help for Social Anxiety: Randomized Controlled Trial Co... | Panacea Index