Quality of life impairments among adults with social phobia: The impact of subtype

    Authors

    N. N. Wong; D. E. Sarver;D. C. Beidel

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Anxiety Disord.

    Keywords

    Social phobia; Quality of life; Social skills; Clinical significance; Impairment; NATIONAL-COMORBIDITY-SURVEY; AVOIDANT PERSONALITY-DISORDER; ANXIETY; DISORDERS; CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE; GENERAL-POPULATION; PANIC DISORDER; PREVALENCE; DEPRESSION; INVENTORY; VALIDITY; Psychology, Clinical; Psychiatry

    Abstract

    Social phobia is characterized by extreme fear in social or performance situations in which the individual may be exposed to embarrassment or scrutiny by others, which creates occupational, social and academic impairment. To date, there are few data examining the relationship of social phobia impairments to quality of life. In this investigation, we examined how demographic characteristics, comorbidity, and social competence are related to quality of life among patients with social phobia and normal controls. In addition, we examined the impact of social phobia subtype. Results indicated that individuals with generalized social phobia had significantly impaired quality of life when compared to individuals with no disorder or individuals with nongeneralized social phobia. Comorbid disorders decreased quality of life only for patients with nongeneralized social phobia. Hierarchical linear regression revealed that a diagnosis of social phobia and observer ratings of social effectiveness exerted strong and independent effects on quality of life scores. Results are discussed in terms of the role of social anxiety,. social competence, and comorbidity on the quality of life for adults with social phobia. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Anxiety Disorders

    Volume

    26

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    50

    Last Page

    57

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000299361800007

    ISSN

    0887-6185

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