The Role of Social Isolation in Anxiety Symptoms and Disorder Development: A Literature Review

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is significant interest in the effects of social isolation on anxiety. To date, several studies have addressed these issues, separately; however, there is a gap in our understanding of social isolation as a risk factor for the prevalence of anxiety symptom severity. Further, it is unknown if these individuals go on to develop anxiety disorders as a result of their experiences that are unique and far-reaching, such as the current pandemic. This is important for public health efforts to prevent and treat anxiety during this pandemic and beyond. This literature review aimed to examine the known links between social isolation and anxiety disorders, and identify what additional work is needed. Results indicate that many studies found social isolation to be a cause of anxiety symptoms as well as depressive symptoms; however, most of these studies lack specific data identifying anxiety disorder risk. Thus, we do not know if these acute symptoms due to social isolation could cause the development of disorders (e.g., social anxiety disorder). Future studies should aim to address these gaps by conducting longitudinal research on individuals that experience social isolation and assess the rate at which individuals suffering from social isolation and subsequent acute anxiety symptoms go on to develop anxiety disorders.