TY - JOUR
T1 - The Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Social Anxiety Disorder
T2 - A Focused National Survey
AU - Ambusaidi, Aamal
AU - Al-Huseini, Salim
AU - Alshaqsi, Hiba
AU - AlGhafri, Manal
AU - Chan, Moon Fai
AU - Al-Sibani, Nasser
AU - Al-Adawi, Samir
AU - Qoronfleh, M. Walid
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors want to thank their respective institutions for their support. The authors also would like to thank all who participated in this study. The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Background: Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is among the most common anxiety disorders worldwide with data largely emerging from the Euro-American and Pacific Rim populations. In contrast, there is a dearth of studies among the populations of Arabian Gulf countries including Oman. This study has two interrelated aims: (i) to explore the prevalence of SAD among Omani adults, and (ii) to tease out the links between socio-demographic factors and SAD in Oman. Methods: A cross-sectional study via an online survey was conducted among 1019 adult Omani nationals residing in Oman. The presence of SAD was assessed using the Arabic version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Results: Nearly half the participants (45.9%, n = 468) exhibited “caseness” for SAD as defined by LSAS. In the multivariate logistic analysis, participants below 40 years of age were 1.6 times (OR = 1.568, p =.026) more likely to have caseness for SAD than those who were 40 and older. Women were 1.3 times (OR = 1.348, p =.038) more likely to exhibit caseness for SAD than men. Participants who had secondary or undergraduate education were respectively 1.5 times (OR = 1.45, p =.014) and 2.5 times (OR = 2.509, p <.001) to have caseness for SAD than those who were graduates. Conclusion: The present data suggest that 45.9% of the participants reached the cut-off for caseness in LSAS, which is high compared to reports from other populations. The present accrued frequency is discussed within the context of the accrued response rate, socio-cultural factors as well as the tendency for self-reported measures to “produce” spurious results is also highlighted which, in turn, calls for studies that adopt more inclusive survey methods.
AB - Background: Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is among the most common anxiety disorders worldwide with data largely emerging from the Euro-American and Pacific Rim populations. In contrast, there is a dearth of studies among the populations of Arabian Gulf countries including Oman. This study has two interrelated aims: (i) to explore the prevalence of SAD among Omani adults, and (ii) to tease out the links between socio-demographic factors and SAD in Oman. Methods: A cross-sectional study via an online survey was conducted among 1019 adult Omani nationals residing in Oman. The presence of SAD was assessed using the Arabic version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Results: Nearly half the participants (45.9%, n = 468) exhibited “caseness” for SAD as defined by LSAS. In the multivariate logistic analysis, participants below 40 years of age were 1.6 times (OR = 1.568, p =.026) more likely to have caseness for SAD than those who were 40 and older. Women were 1.3 times (OR = 1.348, p =.038) more likely to exhibit caseness for SAD than men. Participants who had secondary or undergraduate education were respectively 1.5 times (OR = 1.45, p =.014) and 2.5 times (OR = 2.509, p <.001) to have caseness for SAD than those who were graduates. Conclusion: The present data suggest that 45.9% of the participants reached the cut-off for caseness in LSAS, which is high compared to reports from other populations. The present accrued frequency is discussed within the context of the accrued response rate, socio-cultural factors as well as the tendency for self-reported measures to “produce” spurious results is also highlighted which, in turn, calls for studies that adopt more inclusive survey methods.
KW - adult
KW - focused national survey
KW - liebowitz social anxiety scale
KW - Oman
KW - SAD
KW - social anxiety disorder
KW - social phobia
KW - stress
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U2 - 10.1177/24705470221081215
DO - 10.1177/24705470221081215
M3 - Article
C2 - 35252735
AN - SCOPUS:85126527004
VL - 6
JO - Chronic Stress
JF - Chronic Stress
SN - 2470-5470
ER -