Social anxiety and accumulation of status loss events: The role of adulthood experiences.

OBJECTIVES: The association between social anxiety (SA) and early-life status loss events (SLEs) is well documented. However, such an association in adulthood is yet to be examined. METHODS: Two studies (N = 166 and N = 431) were conducted to address this question. Adult participants filled out questionnaires regarding SLEs accumulation during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, along with depression and SA severity measures. RESULTS: SA was associated with SLEs in adulthood over and above SLEs in childhood and adolescence, and depression. CONCLUSION: The adaptive role of SA in adulthood in the face of concrete and relevant status threats is discussed.