Biopsychosocial Model Social Anxiety and Substance Use Revised

Purpose of Review To review data published in the past 5 years to evaluate the utility of our biopsychosocial model of social anxiety’s relation to substance misuse to evaluate the model’s utility and update it. Recent Findings Data support the utility of our revised model—e.g., socially anxious persons report using substances to manage subjective anxiety, despite evidence that some substances may not have a direct effect on physiological responding. Other factors with promise include social influence, cognitive processes (e.g., post-event processing), and avoidance. Data highlight the importance of context as socially anxious persons use some substances more in some high-risk situations, despite lack of relation between social anxiety and use generally. Sociocultural factors remain understudied. Summary This updated model is a theory- and data-driven model of the relations between social anxiety and substance misuse that can inform future work to improve substance-related outcomes among this especially vulnerable group.