Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) in a longitudinal study of African Americans with anxiety disorders

Social media addiction and academic engagement as serial mediators between social anxiety and academic performance among college students

BACKGROUND

Social anxiety has been shown to affect college students' academic performance. However, the role of social media addiction and academic engagement in this association is unclear.

METHODS

A total 2661 college students completed a self-report questionnaire including Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Utrecht Student Work Engagement Scale for Students, and the grade point average. Hayes' PROCESS macro for SPSS was employed to test the serial mediation effect.

RESULTS

Results indicated that social anxiety was negatively related to academic performance, only academic engagement played a single mediating role in the relationship between social anxiety and academic performance, meanwhile social media addiction and academic engagement acted as serial mediators between social anxiety on academic performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Social media addiction and academic engagement can explain the potential mechanisms of the association between social anxiety and academic performance, which have implications for devising intervention strategies to enhance the mental health and academic outcomes of college students.

Impact of the Integrated Program of Transdiagnostic Treatment and Parent Education on the Social Anxiety of Female Students

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of the combined program of transdiagnostic treatment and parent education in reducing social anxiety among female students.

METHODOLOGY

 This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among all female elementary school students in Bandar Abbas, Iran, during the academic year 2022-2023. The social phobia questionnaire was given to all female students in grades three to six to assess individuals in terms of the social anxiety disorder (SAD) variable. We used the social anxiety scale developed by Leibovitz as the questionnaire in this investigation. This self-assessment questionnaire was designed for individuals aged 18 and above. It consists of 24 statements, divided into two subscales: performance anxiety (13 statements) and social settings (11 statements). Each item is individually assessed for fear intensity on a scale of 0 to 3, ranging from no to extreme. Similarly, avoidance behavior is evaluated on a scale of 0 to 3, representing the frequency ranging from never to always.

RESULTS

 The mean general anxiety levels among both groups (students vs. parents) during the pre-test were similar (48.06 ± 4.39 vs. 48.06± 4.1). However, in the post-test, the mean of the experimental groups was lower than that of the pre-test (32.13 ± 3.77 vs. 47.2 ± 3.6). The normality assumption for the pre-test and post-test variables of generalized anxiety was verified with a significance level over 0.05 (p ≥ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrated that the integrated meta-diagnostic treatment program for parents had a more pronounced effect on alleviating their social anxiety in comparison to students. These findings imply that if parents possess a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to their children's anxiety, it will significantly enhance their ability to mitigate their child's social anxiety.

Outcomes of People of Color in an Efficacy Trial of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments for Anxiety, Depression, and Related Disorders: Preliminary Evidence

ABSTRACT

Although evidence-based psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have strong empirical support for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, CBT outcome research often does not report race and ethnicity variables, or assess how well CBT works for people from historically excluded racial and ethnic groups. This study presents post hoc analyses comparing treatment retention and symptom outcomes for participants of color ( n = 43) and White participants ( n = 136) from a randomized controlled efficacy trial of CBT. χ 2 tests and one-way ANCOVA showed no observable differences between the two samples on attrition or on clinician-rated measures of anxiety and depression at posttreatment and follow-up. Moderate to large within-group effect sizes on anxiety and depression were found for Black, Latinx, and Asian American participants at almost all time points. These preliminary findings suggest that CBT for anxiety and comorbid depression may be efficacious for Black, Asian American, and Latinx individuals.

After one year in university; a robust decrease in autistic traits reporting among autistic students

Background

Previous research on autistic students enrolled in university support programs has reported moderate improvement in anxiety/depression or adaptive behavior. However, alterations in autistic traits have not been examined.

Methods

This longitudinal study evaluated changes in university students' autistic trait and state/trait anxiety levels. Participants were 24 neurotypically developed (ND) students with high levels of social anxiety symptoms (High SA), 30 ND students with low levels of SA symptoms (Low SA), and 41 autistic students (the primary focus of this study) residing with an ND peer student mentor as part of participating in the university's integration support program. Autism spectrum quotient [AQ and State Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI] data were collected during the first semester of two consecutive academic years (T1, T2), as well as baseline (T1) levels of social anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Results

Significant interaction between group and time was observed, denoting a sharp decrease (2.9 SD) from T1 to T2 in the overall autistic trait level among the autistic group (AQ "attention switching" subscale demonstrating the most robust decrease), and a moderate decrease (0.5 SD) among the high SA group. Only for the autistic students were more compulsive symptoms at T1 associated with a lesser decrease in AQ scores (T1-T2), which in turn was negatively correlated with their T1 year-end grade point average.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that attending post-secondary education (while partaking in a support/transition program) is followed by a profound change of the individual's subjective experience of autism, characterized by a sharp decline in the level of autistic traits, particularly attention switching. This change is independent of alterations in well-being indices, such as anxiety, that are known to characterize students attending university.

Adaptive behavior and psychiatric symptoms in university students with ASD: One-year longitudinal study

In recent years, more young adults with ASD are attending post-secondary education, and several support programs have been proposed for this population. However, research regarding the long-term effects of university enrollment on outcomes among students with ASD is scarce. This study examined adaptive behavior and psychiatric symptoms during the first semester of two consecutive academic years (T1, T2) among 39 students with ASD, 29 students without ASD and high levels of social anxiety symptoms (High SA), and 32 students without ASD and low levels of SA symptoms (Low SA). Students with ASD participated in a university support program and resided with a peer mentor student without ASD, which encouraged social interaction. At T1, students with ASD reported lower levels of adaptive behavior and higher levels of social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms compared to the other groups. However, at follow-up (T2), significantly higher conceptual adaptive skill levels (specifically communication skills) and significantly lower depression symptom levels from T1 were reported only among students with ASD. The levels of social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms at T1 were negatively associated with adaptive functioning a year later (T2). Implications regarding adults with ASD attending university are discussed.

Development and initial validation of the Visual Social Anxiety Scale (VSAS): Could a picture be worth a thousand words?

Accurate assessment is crucial for determining appropriate therapeutic interventions for social anxiety and conducting sound clinical research. While self-report measures of social anxiety are widely used in both research and clinical settings, they have several drawbacks inherent to their textual nature. Here, we describe the development and initial validation of the Visual Social Anxiety Scale (VSAS), a novel picture-based self-report measure of social anxiety, based on the well-established widely-used Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Specifically, the 24 items of the LSAS were used as the basis for social situations to be included in the VSAS. First, pictures to serve as VSAS items were selected using a rigorous two-phase process (four pilot studies; n = 225). Next, reliability (internal consistency, test-retest) and validity (convergent, discriminant) were explored with new participants (n = 304) who completed the VSAS and a battery of additional self-report questionnaires, delivered in a random order. The VSAS was completed again a month later (n = 260/304). The VSAS showed high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and good convergent and discriminant validities. VSAS correlations with convergent measures were significantly greater than its correlations with discriminant measures. Thus, the VSAS shows initial promise as a novel picture-based self-report measure of social anxiety.

The Role of Childhood Trauma in Psychosis and Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a prevalent cause of disability worldwide. Distinguished mainly by psychosis, behavioral alterations could range from hallucinations to delusions. This systematic review examines evidence of a relationship between childhood trauma/adverse life events and psychosis, especially in SCZ. A methodical search provided reproducible results using these five databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Semantic Scholar, JSTOR, and Cochrane Library. The systematic search focused on articles published between July 2016 and July 2021. The search strategy utilized specific keywords relevant to SCZ, psychosis, and childhood trauma. The formulation of specified inclusion and exclusion criteria was necessary to ensure a comprehensive narrowed-down search, such as the inclusion of free full-text articles published or translated in English and exclusion of irrelevant subject areas. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a strategic search initially identified 741 articles; three additional articles were identified from citation searching. After relevance screening, duplicate removal, and quality appraisal, 12 studies from databases/registers and three from citation searching met the criteria proving relevance to our review with minimal evidence of bias. The final selected 15 studies included observational studies and reviews. A review of relevant data unveiled findings on childhood adversity, individual lived experiences, and their involvement in SCZ. Evidence suggests that certain neurobiological processes occur in brain after trauma. The inflammation and dysregulation from oxidative stress predispose patients to an at-risk-mental state, facilitating the progression to SCZ. This review encourages further evaluation of early trauma detection and the potential benefits of early intervention.

Understanding Psychiatric Disorders in Idiopathic and Inherited (Monogenic) Forms of Isolated and Combined Dystonia: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between idiopathic and inherited (monogenic) forms of isolated and combined dystonia and psychiatric disorders remains unclear. In the present review, the authors aimed to provide increased clarity on this association through a systematic review of all controlled quantitative studies using a structured or semi-structured psychiatric interview to diagnose psychiatric disorders in individuals with these conditions.

METHODS

Three databases were searched to identify 20 eligible studies, with a total of 1,275 participants fulfilling inclusion criteria. Eligible articles were quality appraised and divided into four sections (idiopathic forms of dystonia [N=11], early-onset torsion dystonia [N=2], gene mutation positive myoclonus dystonia; DYT-SGCE [N=6], and rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism [N=1]).

RESULTS

For each study, results were grouped into subcategories (overall psychiatric comorbidity, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance misuse, and other [personality disorder and cognitive impairment]). For idiopathic dystonia, higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity, including mood and anxiety disorders, were noted when cases were compared with both healthy control subjects and control groups with a medical comorbidity. However, for major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) specifically, no differences were seen between groups. Study subjects with DYT-SGCE appeared to be at higher risk of psychiatric comorbidity, major depressive disorder, OCD, and alcohol dependence than control populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity appears to be increased in individuals with idiopathic and inherited (monogenic) forms of isolated and combined dystonia compared with control subjects. This finding is not consistent for all comparisons, and further research is required to understand the nature of these associations and the underlying causative etiologies.

Cortisol reactivity in social anxiety disorder: A highly standardized and controlled study

In order to understand the psychopathology of the social anxiety disorder (SAD) at the neuroendocrine level, standardized experimental studies on endocrine and physiological markers are necessary, especially since empirical data are still ambiguous. Hence, differences in both, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the endocrine stress responses (ACTH, salivary and plasma cortisol) were investigated in a particularly homogenous sample after a standardized stressor (Trier Social Stress Test). The sample consisted of n  = 35 patients with SAD, age, and gender matched to n  = 35 healthy controls (HC). In terms of the heart rate, the response pattern was comparable in both groups. Concerning ACTH, no significant group differences in the response pattern nor in the total output (AUC_G) were exhibited. Significant differences were noticeable only in the plasma cortisol response pattern with less total output (AUC_G) in patients suggesting a blunted response. The salivary cortisol response indicated comparable patterns between groups. However, the patients' total output (AUC_G) was significantly smaller relative to the controls. In sum, evidence for a hypo-responsiveness of the HPA-axis in SAD by means of blood cortisol was observed, with no differences in ACTH between the two groups. This reduced reactivity of the HPA-axis might be associated with an inability to elicit an adequate hormone release, possibly accompanied by an enhanced perception of the stress stimulus. This might be explained by an adaptation of the adrenocortical system due to prolonged repeated stress exposure such as social evaluation.

Physiological synchrony is associated with cooperative success in real-life interactions

Cooperation is pivotal for society to flourish. To foster cooperation, humans express and read intentions via explicit signals and subtle reflections of arousal visible in the face. Evidence is accumulating that humans synchronize these nonverbal expressions and the physiological mechanisms underlying them, potentially influencing cooperation. The current study is designed to verify this putative linkage between synchrony and cooperation. To that end, 152 participants played the Prisoner's Dilemma game in a dyadic interaction setting, sometimes facing each other and sometimes not. Results showed that synchrony in both heart rate and skin conductance level emerged during face-to-face contact. However, only synchrony in skin conductance levels predicted cooperative success of dyads. Crucially, this positive linkage was strengthened when participants could see each other. These findings show the strong relationship between our bodily responses and social behavior, and emphasize the importance of studying social processes between rather than within individuals in real-life interactions.

The Gap Between Cognition and Adaptive Behavior in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Social Anxiety and the Moderating Effect of Autism Traits

The gap between cognitive ability and adaptive behavior has been thought to enhance psychopathology among people with autism, particularly among those without intellectual disability. We examined this association by exploring the gap between cognitive understanding of social behavior and socially adaptive behavior, and its impact on social anxiety symptoms, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and depressive symptoms, among 53 university students with autism (without intellectual disability). A higher cognition-social adaptation discrepancy was associated with more social anxiety, but this effect was moderated by autistic trait (AT) levels; a greater gap was associated with more avoidance symptoms of social anxiety only among students with high AT. Cognitive flexibility and prosocial behavior may mitigate the effects of AT. Potential implications and interventions are discussed.

Does smartphone addiction affect social interaction: a study among dental students in Hyderabad

OBJECTIVE

Technology has revolutionized the way people communicate and changed communication in many ways. The evolution of the smartphone may shed some light on this. Though smartphones are user friendly, they can be detrimental to a user's health if they are used in an addictive manner. With easy accessibility to smartphones, dental students may fall prey to smartphone addiction (SA) which in turn may affect their social interaction. Therefore, this paper aimed to examine whether SA affects social interaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate dental students from five dental institutions in Hyderabad. Participants received a questionnaire assessing SA [15 item-Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale (SAPS-15)], social interaction [20 item-Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) ). The chi-square (χ²)-test was used to determine the association between SA and social interaction anxiety. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The study comprised 470 (30.7%) males and 1060 (69.3%) females. Multiple logistic regression revealed females [1.65; confidence interval (CI) = 0.88-1.88] and third year students (2.12; CI: 1.45-2.23) had significantly higher odds for social interaction anxiety (p ≤ 0.05*).

CONCLUSION

Therefore, the present study supported the hypothesis that SA affects social interaction anxiety among undergraduate dental students.

Imagery Rescripting and Exposure in Social Anxiety: A Randomized Trial Comparing Treatment Techniques

This randomized trial compared the effects of imagery rescripting against in vivo exposure administered separately during a single session with 27 socially anxious individuals. Previous research shows that imagery rescripting is a promising treatment technique for various disorders including social anxiety, although imagery rescripting and exposure for social anxiety have not yet been compared. Social anxiety self-report measures (LSAS-SR and BFNE-II); the distress, vividness, and frequency of fear images (i.e., Imagery condition); and the levels of anxiety, avoidance, and the strength of convictions of a feared social situation (i.e., exposure condition) were rated at baseline, before treatment, and after a 2- and 4-week follow up period. Both treatment groups improved significantly on all measures pre- to post treatment and the effects largely remained at the 4-week follow-up. No significant differences between the treatment groups were found on the anxiety measures. The results suggest that either a single session of imagery rescripting or of exposure are effective in reducing social anxiety, and that both treatment techniques, even when administered in a single session, reduces social anxiety.

The Interplay Between Face-to-Face Contact and Feedback on Cooperation During Real-Life Interactions

Cooperation forms the basis of our society and becomes increasingly essential during times of globalization. However, despite technological developments people still prefer to meet face-to-face, which has been shown to foster cooperation. However, what is still unclear is how this beneficial effect depends on what people know about their interaction partner. To examine this question, 58 dyads played an iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma game, sometimes facing each other, sometimes without face contact. Additionally, explicit feedback regarding their decisions was manipulated between dyads. The results revealed that participants were more cooperative when they saw each other compared to when they could not, and when receiving reliable compared to unreliable or no feedback. Contradicting our hypothesis that participants would rely more on nonverbal communication in the absence of explicit information, we observed that the two sources of information operated independently on cooperative behavior. Interestingly, although individuals mostly relied on explicit information if available, participants still cooperated more after their partner defected with face-to-face contact compared to no face-to-face contact. The results of our study have implications for real-life interactions, suggesting that face-to-face contact has beneficial effects on prosocial behavior even if people cannot verify whether their selfless acts are being reciprocated.

Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a large cross-cultural Spanish and Portuguese speaking sample

Objective:

To examine the psychometric properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self Report (LSAS-SR) based on a large sample recruited from 16 Latin American countries, Spain, and Portugal.

Methods:

Two groups of participants were included: a non-clinical sample involving 31,243 community subjects and a clinical sample comprising 529 patients with a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used in order to determine the psychometric properties of the LSAS-SR.

Results:

EFA identified five factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.00 explaining 50.78% of the cumulative variance. CFA and ESEM supported this 5-factor structure of the LSAS-SR. The factors included: 1) speaking in public; 2) eating/drinking in front of other people; 3) assertive behaviors; 4) working/writing while being observed; and 5) interactions with strangers. Other psychometric properties such as inter-factor correlations, invariance, reliability, and validity of the scale were also found.

Conclusion:

Psychometric data support the internal consistency and convergent validity of the LSAS-SR. It seems to be a valid and reliable measure of global social anxiety for Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, although when considering a multidimensional approach (factor-based assessment) it seems to be lacking some relevant social situations that are feared in those countries.

Gender Atypicality and Anxiety Response to Social Interaction Stress in Homosexual and Heterosexual Men

Gender non-conforming behavior and a homosexual sexual orientation have both been linked to higher levels of anxiety. This study examined the independent and interactive effects of gender atypicality and sexual orientation on levels of state anxiety immediately following a stressful social interaction task among a sample of homosexual and heterosexual Israeli men (n = 36). Gender atypicality was measured via both self-report and observer ratings. State anxiety was measured via both self-report immediately subsequent to the stressful social interaction task and pre- to post task changes in salivary cortisol. Results showed that self-reported gender atypicality and heterosexual sexual orientation predicted higher levels of self-reported social interaction anxiety, but not changes in cortisol. There were no sexual orientation by gender behavior interactions and there were no significant effects for observer rated gender atypicality. These findings suggest that gender atypicality, not homosexuality, place individuals at risk for increased anxiety.

Psychometric properties of the social phobia and social interaction anxiety scales: evidence of construct equivalence in an African American sample

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Scale and Social Interaction Anxiety scale in a community sample of African Americans. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the combined scales comparing the data to 2- and 3-factor solutions commonly reported in the literature. The results indicated that neither solution produce an adequate fit to the data in this study. We then proceeded to conduct an exploratory factor analysis within a confirmatory framework of both scales. While we were able to extract a 2-factor solution from the data, the item composition of the factors was somewhat different for African Americans than what is typically reported in non-Hispanic White samples. While we conclude that use of the two social anxiety scales is warranted, we make recommendations regarding the interpretation of both scales with African Americans.

Relationship between genuine and pseudohalitosis and social anxiety disorder

Halitosis is described as offensive breath caused by various factors such as periodontal diseases, bacterial coating of tongue, systemic disorders and different types of foods. Pseudohalitosis is a situation that patients complain of oral malodor even though they do not have offensive odour. The purpose of this study was to compare the relationships between social anxiety estimations and both pseudohalitosis and genuine halitosis cases. Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and questionnaire regarding halitosis were applied to 100 participants. Halitosis was determined using organoleptic method, gas chromatography and portable sulphur monitor. anova test and 2-tailed Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient were used to determine the differences and relations between groups. With reference to LSAS, 62% of participants had anxiety. Among these patients, 98% had genuine halitosis (P < 0·05). The mean measurements of VSC values were 248·65 ppm in halimeter, 298·02 ppm of H2 S, 95·33 ppm of CH3 SH and 47·00 ppm of (CH3 )2 S in gas chromatography. Halitosis was present in 90% of participants, and it was absent in 10% by organoleptic assessment. There was a significant correlation between organoleptic and halimeter measurements. Moreover, statistically significant relationship was detected between anxiety and halitosis. Genuine halitosis patients exhibit social anxiety, so it can be said that there is a causal relationship between halitosis and anxiety. Comparison of the results of objective measurements (sulphur monitor, gas chromatography, organoleptic method) was statistically significant; therefore, it can be said that these methods can be used in diagnosis of halitosis with high accuracy.

The factor structure of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents: development of a brief version

The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA-SR) is a validated instrument for the assessment of social anxiety in youth. The three main objectives of the present study were to (a) examine the factor structure of the LSAS-CA-SR; (b) to validate the factors against relevant personality measures, and (c) to create a brief and reliable version of the questionnaire. A total of 1,362 adolescents completed self-report measures of social anxiety, temperament, character and personality traits. The factor structure was examined using a combination of confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. The analysis was conducted on both the anxiety and avoidance sub-scales, and identical items for both sub-scales were maintained. Two factors emerged: social interaction and school performance. These factors demonstrated high internal consistency and a significant correlation with relevant self-report measures. A brief version comprised of 14 items was highly correlated (0.96) with the full version. The new factor structure represents advancement over the previous efforts, and holds promise for efficient utilization of the LSAS-CA.

Two-year course of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder in a longitudinal sample of African American adults

OBJECTIVE

Anxiety disorders are the most common group of psychiatric disorders in adults. In addition to high prevalence, anxiety disorders are associated with significant functional impairment, and published research has consistently found them to have a chronic course. To date, very little research has explored the clinical characteristics and prospective course of anxiety disorders in racial and ethnic minority samples. The aims of this article are to present clinical and demographic characteristics at intake and prospective 2-year course findings in a sample of African American adults.

METHOD

Data are presented from 152 African Americans diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD, n = 94), social anxiety disorder (SAD, n = 85), and panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA, n = 77) who are participating in the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Project-Phase II (HARP-II). HARP-II is an observational, prospective, longitudinal study of the course of anxiety disorders. Participants were interviewed at intake and annually for 2 years of follow-up. Probabilities of recovery over 2 years of follow-up were calculated using standard survival analysis methods.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Survival analyses revealed a chronic course for all anxiety disorders, with rates of recovery of 0.23, 0.07, and 0.00 over 2 years for GAD, SAD, and PDA, respectively. These rates of recovery were lower than those reported in predominantly non-Latino White longitudinal samples, especially for SAD and PDA, suggesting that anxiety disorders may have a more chronic course for African Americans, with increased psychosocial impairment and high rates of comorbid Axis-I disorders. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Psychometric validation study of the liebowitz social anxiety scale - self-reported version for Brazilian Portuguese

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is prevalent and rarely diagnosed due to the difficulty in recognizing its symptoms as belonging to a disorder. Therefore, the evaluation/screening scales are of great importance for its detection, with the most used being the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Thus, this study proposed to evaluate the psychometric properties of internal consistency and convergent validity, as well as the confirmatory factorial analysis and reliability of the self-reported version of the LSAS (LSAS-SR), translated into Brazilian Portuguese, in a sample of the general population (N = 413) and in a SAD clinical sample (N = 252). The convergent validity with specific scales for the evaluation of SAD and a general anxiety scale presented correlations ranging from 0.21 to 0.84. The confirmatory factorial analysis did not replicate the previously indicated findings of the literature, with the difficulty being in obtaining a consensus factorial structure common to the diverse cultures in which the instrument was studied. The LSAS-SR presented excellent internal consistency (α = 0.90-0.96) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 0.81; Pearson's = 0.82). The present findings support those of international studies that attest to the excellent psychometric properties of the LSAS-SR, endorsing its status as the gold standard.

Two-phase survey to determine social anxiety and gender differences in Omani adolescents

INTRODUCTION

There is a lack of studies examining the effectiveness of some of the commonly used instruments to elicit the presence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in Arab-speaking populations, such as those in Oman. The aim of this study was to establish the influence of social anxiety and the role of gender among Omani adolescents.

METHODS

A two-phase protocol was used, entailing the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) against the gold standard, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

RESULTS

According to DSM and LSAS, the prevalence of social phobia among Omani students was generally higher compared to what has been reported in other parts of the world and the crosstabs analysis showed a significant correlation between gender and SAD.

DISCUSSION

The Arabic version of LSAS proved to be an effective tool for assessing and quantifying the presence of SAD. This study discusses the sociocultural factors affecting social phobia in Omani society.

The acting White accusation, racial identity, and anxiety in African American adolescents

Acting White is one of the most negative accusations an African American adolescent can receive from another. The accusation can either be made directly or indirectly. Research suggests that receiving the accusation may create distress for some African American adolescents. The current study examined the relationship between experiencing the acting White accusation, racial identity, and anxiety among African American adolescents. High school students completed the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and the Acting White Experiences Questionnaire (AWEQ). Results indicated that adolescents who both directly and indirectly experienced the AWA reported higher anxiety than those who only indirectly experienced the AWA. Additionally, adolescents who reported experiencing more indirect aspects of the accusation or being "bothered" more by the accusation reported higher levels of anxiety. Findings suggest that the acting White accusation may be a culturally relevant factor influencing anxiety among African American adolescents.

Psychometric Properties of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a Longitudinal Study of Latinos With Anxiety Disorders

The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is one of the most commonly used measures of social anxiety symptoms. To date, no study has examined its psychometric properties in a Latino sample. The authors examined the reliability, temporal stability, and convergent validity of the LSAS in 73 Latinos diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The original LSAS subscales showed excellent internal consistency and temporal stability over a 1-year period. Participants with social anxiety disorder (SAD) scored significantly higher on all LSAS subscales than participants without SAD, supporting the convergent validity of the LSAS. Similar results were obtained for four subscales proposed by Safren and colleagues. Results have implications for the use of the LSAS as a measure of severity or outcome when comparing diverse populations. Future investigations in larger Latino samples are needed to examine the factor structure of the LSAS.