Predictive Factors for Social Connectedness: An Interaction Between Alexithymia, Self Esteem, Optimism and the Presence of Depressive Symptoms

Social connectedness has been found to have a role in the development of social anxiety. This study investigated: alexithymia, self-esteem, optimism and the presence of depressive symptoms, in predicting the experience of social connectedness and in turn, social anxiety. One hundred and thirteen participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, The Life Orientation Test, the Centre of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the Social Connectedness and Social Assurance Scales. Statistical analysis revealed that each factor was able to significantly predict social connectedness. Additionally, when the variables interacted, the model accounted for 46.1% of the variance in social connectedness scores. These findings add depth to the limited research on the factors that can predict social connectedness and they also have implications for the development of specific therapeutic interventions for social anxiety and Social Anxiety Disorder.