Self-Help for Social Anxiety: Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing a Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Approach With a Control Group.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.