The study found that adolescent safety behaviours can be grouped into two distinct categories: avoidance behaviours, which reduce social engagement, and impression-management behaviours, which aim to create a positive social impression. Both types were associated with greater social anxiety symptoms and negative social cognitions. However, avoidance behaviours were uniquely linked to poorer peer relationships, including greater peer victimisation, lower friendship quality, and reduced social satisfaction. Overall, the findings suggest that safety behaviours play an important role in maintaining adolescent social anxiety and may represent key targets for intervention.