Differential impact of performance and interaction related types of social anxiety symptoms on different quality of life domains

• Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common disorder associated with impaired quality of life (QoL), that indexes anxious distress and avoidance related to social situations. The DSM-5 features a specifier to delineate those with only performance-related social anxiety, yet little is known whether performance- and interaction-related anxieties have a differential impact on total QoL and on different QoL domains. To investigate this, we pooled screening data from eight intervention studies for SAD (n = 2017). Total sample mean age was 35.28 (SD = 12.26) and 69% were female. SAD symptoms were measured using the self-rated Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale with items classified as measuring either performance or interaction anxiety. QoL, both total and across four domains, was measured using the Quality of Life Inventory. Data was analyzed using multiple regression models featuring the two anxiety scores as predictors, and by simulating the Performance-only specifier through 2˙2 median-split subgrouping and standard ANOVAs. Both interaction and performance anxieties were independently associated with lower QoL in general and across domains. Interaction anxiety had a larger negative impact on Personal Growth- and Achievement-related QoL than performance anxiety. The High-Performance/Low-Interaction-group rated higher Achievement-related QoL compared to the Low-Performance/High-Interaction-group (p = .012), yet groups were matched on total QoL and on other domains. Other group differences were in the expected direction.QoL impairments in SAD is primarily driven by number of feared social situations, and only secondarily by types of fear social situations, with interaction anxiety having a larger, negative impact on some QoL domains.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

quality of life

social anxiety symptoms

Psychology

psykologi

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