Social anxiety disorder and self-esteem are related through a factor known as connectedness according to Fatima and colleagues (2017). In general, self-esteem provides a buffer against anxiety. Through research, it was found that self-esteem negatively and significantly predicts social anxiety, which in turn is related to social connectedness. In other words, if an individual has low self-esteem, they are likely to socially isolate themselves and therefore experience diminished social connections and support.