The roles of the social rank and attachment systems in social anxiety

We examined the contribution of social rank and attachment to social anxiety (SA) and depression. Specifically, we explored meditational models in which social rank and attachment influenced SA which in turn influenced depression. Young adults (n = 102) completed measures of submissive behavior (SB), social comparison (SC), attachment, and depression and SA. SA mediated the relationship between attachment and depression. However, when social rank indices (SB and SC) were entered as predictors, attachment and SA were no longer associated. Instead, support was found for a social rank → social anxiety → depression mediation model. Examination of SA from the perspective of the social rank system may contribute to the evolving understanding of the core features of SA and of its intrapersonal and interpersonal manifestations.