Social phobia subtypes in the general population revealed by cluster analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on subtypes of social phobia are scarce and their defining features are debated. Hence, the present study explored the prevalence and descriptive characteristics of empirically derived social phobia subgroups in the general population. METHODS: To reveal subtypes, data on social distress, functional impairment, number of social fears and criteria fulfilled for avoidant personality disorder were extracted from a previously published epidemiological study of 188 social phobics and entered into an hierarchical cluster analysis. Criterion validity was evaluated by comparing clusters on the Social Phobia Scale (SPS) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). Finally, profile analyses were performed in which clusters were compared on a set of sociodemographic and descriptive characteristics. RESULTS: Three clusters emerged, consisting of phobics scoring either high (generalized subtype), intermediate (non-generalized subtype) or low (discrete subtype) on all variables. Point prevalence rates were 2.0%, 5.9% and 7.7% respectively. All subtypes were distinguished on both SPS and SIAS. Generalized or severe social phobia tended to be over-represented among individuals with low levels of educational attainment and social support. Overall, public-speaking was the most common fear. CONCLUSIONS: Although categorical distinctions may be used, the present data suggest that social phobia subtypes in the general population mainly differ dimensionally along a mild moderate-severe continuum, and that the number of cases declines with increasing severity.
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Public speaking is among the most common social challenges feared in SAD.
“Public speaking is among the most common social challenges feared in SAD (Stein et al., 1996; Furmark et al., 2000)”
From Virtual Reality exposure therapy in the treatment of public speaking anxiety and social anxiety disorder (2024) · cites this paper as Furmark et al., 2000
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- Authors
- FURMARK, T., TILLFORS, M., STATTIN, H., EKSELIUS, L., & FREDRIKSON, M.
- Affiliations
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2000-11
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1335-1344
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2004104050
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- social anxiety disorder, generalized social phobia, avoidant personality disorder, social distress, functional disability, social interaction anxiety, social support, educational attainment, prevalence, general population
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Phobic Disorders, Population Surveillance, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Sampling Studies, Severity of Illness Index, Socioeconomic Factors, Sweden, Reproducibility of Results, Prevalence, Cluster Analysis
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