Evaluation of a Self-Monitoring Intervention to Reduce Safety Behavior in Social Anxiety

Text Message Safety Behavior Fading Intervention for Social AnxietyEvaluation of a Self-Monitoring Intervention to Reduce Safety Behaviors in Social Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The current study aims to explore the efficacy of a text message based Safety Behavior Fading Intervention compared to a control intervention.

5.1 Description: Social anxiety safety behavior fading intervention procedures will follow methodology previously used in the Cougle Lab. The safety behavior fading intervention is designed to target a decrease or elimination of five social anxiety safety behaviors that an individual has self-identified that they engage in most frequently and/or to the greatest extent. Individuals randomly assigned to the safety behavior fading condition will receive instructions to decrease or eliminate their five social anxiety safety behaviors. In addition, they will receive daily reminders via text message to decrease these behaviors, along with a safety behavior monitoring checklist in which the participant indicates the extent to which they decreased and/or eliminated each safety behavior over the previous day. The daily reminder will include the following language: "Hi! This is a friendly reminder to avoid using your checklist behaviors. Please tap the link below to access today's checklist: [link to checklist]." Individuals randomly assigned to the control condition will receive text messages to encourage fading of "unhealthy behaviors". They will follow the same procedure as the safety behavior fading group.

Participants will receive one of two matched interventions. They will not be told whether they are receiving the active or control intervention

Participants will be asked to identify their five most common SBs from the SAFE. Participants will then be shown a sample checklist with instructions to fill it out. For the next 14 days, participants will receive the following text message "Please remember to avoid using SBs you selected. As you drop them, you'll be able to go into social situations with greater confidence!" with a link for their daily checklist to complete. Participants will be asked to rate how often they engaged in each SB over the past 24 hours

Participants will be asked to pick five unhealthy behaviors they engage in most often to decrease. Participants will then be shown the same sample checklist as the Safety Behavior Fading Group. For the next 14 days participants will receive the following text message "Please try to remember to decrease your unhealthy behaviors. As you decrease them you will feel better, and you'll be able to go into social situations with greater confidence!" with a link for their daily checklist to complete. Participants will be asked to rate how often they engaged in each Unhealthy Behavior over the past 24 hours.

Participants are asked to reduce or eliminate safety behaviors via text message reminders and checklists to monitor progress

Participants are asked to reduce or eliminate unhealthy behaviors via text message reminders and checklists to monitor progress

Self-report scale that measures Social anxiety symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 68 with higher scores indicating higher levels of social anxiety symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria: Social Phobia Inventory Score >29 Stable Psychotropic Medications for 4 weeks prior to participation Exclusion Criteria: Currently participating in psychotherapy