Effects of Worry Conversations on Social Anxiety: A Study of Problem Anxiety Talk

We investigated whether worry-focused conversations, termed problem anxiety talk (PAT), with a friend predicted social anxiety symptoms. Participants were 154 late adolescents (M_age= 19, 64% female, 36% male). PAT significantly predicted social anxiety symptoms while controlling for friendship quality, length, and interaction frequency, suggesting PAT may potentiate social anxiety contagion.