Understanding the relationship of social anxiety with alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in young people: A meta-analysis

Social anxiety relates to different alcohol-related outcomes among young people. A meta-analysis reviewed the existing research to identify factors, such as impulsivity, that may explain differences in these outcomes. Empirical studies reporting the link between social anxiety and alcohol use or problems in young people (aged 13–29 years) were found through a systematic literature search. Five random effects meta-analyses were conducted on alcohol-related issues, problematic drinking, and measures of frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption. Seventy studies with 233 effect sizes were included. The average age was 20 years (n = 38,517; 66.2% female). Social anxiety was linked to lower alcohol use based on index measures, but the association was not statistically significant for quantity or frequency of drinking. However, social anxiety was significantly positively associated with alcohol-related problems and problematic alcohol use. Impulsivity was a significant moderator: as impulsivity’s correlation with social anxiety increased, so did the association between social anxiety and index alcohol use. Subgroup analyses for different measures of alcohol-related problems also showed significant results. Young people with higher social anxiety tend to drink less alcohol than their peers but report more problematic use and related issues. Impulsivity might help explain these unexpected patterns of lower alcohol consumption, although the conclusions are still tentative due to methodological limitations.
Source: Fichtenmaier, A.J, George, A.M. (2026) Understanding the relationship of social anxiety with alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in young people: A meta-analysis. Addiction.