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Cited by 63Mental Health Treatment and AccessAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychology and Mental Health

How people evaluate others with social anxiety disorder: A comparison to depression and general mental illness stigma

Anderson, Kristin N., Jeon, Andrew B., Blenner, Jordan A., Wiener, Richard L., Hope, Debra A.·2015·American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
DOI 10.1037/ort0000046
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Abstract

Despite the availability of effective interventions, most individuals with social anxiety disorder do not seek treatment. Given their fear of negative evaluation, socially anxious individuals might be especially susceptible to stigma concerns, a recognized barrier for mental health treatment. However, very little is known about the stigma specific to social anxiety disorder. In a design similar to Feldman and Crandall (2007), university undergraduate students read vignettes about target individuals with a generic mental illness label, major depressive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Subjects rated each of 3 people in the vignettes on social distance and 17 dimensions including dangerousness, heritability and prevalence of the disorder, and gender ratio. Results indicated that being male and not having experience with mental health treatment was associated with somewhat greater preferred social distance. Multiple regression analyses revealed that being embarrassed by the disorder and dangerousness predicted social distance across all 3 vignettes. The vignette for social anxiety disorder had the most complex model and included work impairment, more common among women, and more avoidable. These results have implications for understanding the specific aspects of the stigma associated with social anxiety disorder. Public service messages to reduce stigma should focus on more accurate information about dangerousness and mental illness, given this is an established aspect of mental illness stigma. More nuanced messages about social anxiety might be best incorporated into the treatment referral process and as part of treatment.

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Crossref · 10.1037/ort0000046

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  • Social anxiety is perceived to be embarrassing to have, which predicts how much others want to distance themselves from the socially anxious person.

    “additionally, social anxiety is perceived to be embarrassing to have, which in turn predicts (alongside other variables) how much others want to distance themselves from the socially anxious person [19];”

    From The Prevalence of Adolescent Social Fears and Social Anxiety Disorder in School Contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [19]

  • The unavailability of about half of adolescents with intense self-reported social fears for diagnostic interview may reflect the mental health stigma associated with social anxiety in adolescence.

    “This unavailability may reflect the mental health stigma associated with social anxiety in adolescence.”

    From The Prevalence of Adolescent Social Fears and Social Anxiety Disorder in School Contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [19]

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Related

Authors
Anderson, K. N., Jeon, A. B., Blenner, J. A., Wiener, R. L., & Hope, D. A.
Affiliations
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
ORCID
Hope, Debra A.
Venue
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2015
Volume
85
Issue
2
Pages
131-138
ISSN
  • 0002-9432 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-0025
DOI
10.1037/ort0000046
OpenAlex
W2064140075
Cited by
63
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1
FWCI
1.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lincoln (University of Nebraska) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • University of Nebraska Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
Keywords
social anxiety disorder, mental health stigma, depression, stigma reduction, social distance, perceived dangerousness, perceived prevalence, gender differences, barriers to treatment
MeSH terms
Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Regression Analysis, Psychological Distance, Stereotyping, Sex Distribution, Young Adult, Social Stigma

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