5 Research-Backed Strategies to Reduce Students’ Social Anxiety

Social anxiety in students isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s a growing trend. A global study found that 36 percent of young people met the criteria for social anxiety disorder (SAD), a prevalence notably higher than in previous years. Due to the rise in social anxiety, more students enter my class struggling with peer engagement, making participation feel overwhelming.

But here’s the good news: Confidence isn’t something students either have or don’t have—it’s a skill that can be built. When we create structured, low-pressure opportunities for students to engage, we help them develop self-assurance and overcome the fear of judgment.

In my English classroom, I see it every day: students hesitant to raise their hands, nervous about sharing ideas, and worried about saying the wrong thing. But I’ve also seen how small, intentional strategies can turn anxiety into engagement. Here are five research-backed ways to help ease anxiety and build confidence to help students engage.

1. Start Small: Lower the Stakes, Build the Confidence

For students with social anxiety, speaking in class can feel like skydiving without a parachute. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that gradual exposure is key—starting with small, low-risk interactions builds comfort and confidence.

In my English class, I never start discussions by putting students on the spot. Instead, I have them write their thoughts first before speaking. After reading a passage, students jot down a response before sharing it with a partner. Only after this warm-up do we open the discussion to the class.

Low-stakes check-ins also help. At the start of class, I ask students to write one word that describes how they’re feeling or something they’re excited about that day. This normalizes participation, making speaking up feel less intimidating over time.

2. Teach Social Cues: Help Students Read the Room

Anxiety skews perception. A neutral face can look like a glare. A pause in conversation can feel like rejection. Research shows that teaching students how to interpret social cues accurately reduces unnecessary fear and builds confidence.

In my English class, we practice reading social cues by analyzing body language in literature and media. When discussing characters, I ask students to focus on how facial expressions, tone, and gestures affect meaning. We also watch short, soundless film clips, and students describe the emotions they see.

Another simple activity is partner mirroring—one student expresses an emotion through body language, and the other mirrors it. This builds awareness of how small actions shape communication.

Before speeches or presentations, I have students study TED Talks, analyzing how speakers use eye contact, hand gestures, and tone to engage their audience. Understanding these cues doesn’t just improve communication skills—it reduces the anxiety of misinterpreting social interactions.

3. Build Assertive Communication: Give Students a Voice

Students with social anxiety often stay silent even when they have something valuable to say. Research shows that structured opportunities to practice assertive communication increase self-efficacy.

To help my students find their voices, I use sentence starters during discussions:

• “I agree with ___, but I also think…”
• “I see it differently because…”
• “Can you clarify what you mean by…?”

These simple tools reduce the fear of saying the “wrong” thing and encourage participation.

I also use role-playing exercises where students practice asking for help, explaining an idea, or respectfully disagreeing. For example, when students analyze a novel, they might act out a conversation between two characters while practicing assertive speech.

We also set classroom communication agreements together. Expectations like “One mic at a time” and “Challenge ideas, not people” make it clear that all voices are valued, creating a safer space for participation.

4. Reframe Mistakes as Growth: Normalize Failure

Fear of failure keeps many students silent. However, research shows that when mistakes are framed as part of learning, students develop resilience and take more risks.

In my English class, I openly discuss famous failures—J.K. Rowling’s multiple rejections before getting Harry Potter published, or how F. Scott Fitzgerald had to revise The Great Gatsby based on editor feedback. Seeing that even great writers struggle helps students understand that failure isn’t final—it’s part of growth.

I also use growth mindset journaling, where students reflect on challenges they’ve faced and how they worked through them. Before major essays, they write about a time they struggled with writing and how they improved.

Another strategy is Mistake of the Day—I’ll highlight a grammar error from my own writing or show how an author revised their work. When students see that everyone makes mistakes, they stop fearing them.

5. Scaffold Group Interactions: Step into Confidence

Jumping into a full-class discussion can feel terrifying. Research shows that structured steps help students to be more engaged in their participation and can help them achieve. In my English classroom, I use gradual engagement to help hesitant students find their voice.

Before discussing a novel, I use Silent Google Doc Conversations—students respond to a prompt in writing on a shared document. This allows them to process their thoughts before speaking.

One of the most effective tools I use is Conversation Tokens. Each student gets three tokens—physical chips, sticky notes, or digital markers. They must “spend” a token each time they contribute to a discussion:

• Blue Token → Ask a question
• Green Token → Respond to a peer
• Yellow Token → Share a new idea

This ensures equal participation, prevents dominant speakers from taking over, and helps anxious students know exactly when and how they’re expected to speak.

I also use a Participation Ladder to ease students into discussions:

1. Write a response.
2. Share with a partner.
3. Discuss in a small group.
4. Join the full-class conversation.

This method removes the pressure of immediate large-group participation while building communication skills over time.

Social anxiety doesn’t have to hinder our students from achievement. With the right structures, every student can learn how to navigate interactions with confidence. The secret? Small, intentional steps.