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Latent structure of social fears and social anxiety disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2013

M. Iza ,
M. M. Wall ,
R. G. Heimberg ,
T. L. Rodebaugh ,
F. R. Schneier ,
S.-M. Liu  and
C. Blanco
M. Iza*
Affiliation:
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
M. M. Wall
Affiliation:
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
R. G. Heimberg
Affiliation:
Temple University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
T. L. Rodebaugh
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Washington University Campus, St Louis, MO, USA
F. R. Schneier
Affiliation:
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
S.-M. Liu
Affiliation:
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
C. Blanco
Affiliation:
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: M. Iza, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. (Email: mirenizacia@yahoo.es)
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Abstract

Background

Despite its high prevalence and associated levels of impairment, the latent structure of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is not well understood, with published studies reporting inconsistent results. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the latent structure of social fears in individuals with and without SAD is the same.

Method

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis followed by multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) analysis were conducted on 13 commonly feared social situations assessed in a nationally representative sample including individuals with SAD and those with social fears but who did not meet DSM-IV criteria for SAD.

Results

An EFA conducted in the full sample, including individuals with no social fears (88% of the sample), yielded only one factor. When the sample was restricted to those with at least one social fear, the EFA yielded three factors, in both the subsample with at least one social fear but no SAD and the subsample with SAD. The three factors represented feared situations related to public performance, close scrutiny and social interaction. The MIMIC analyses further indicated that the three-factor structure was able to explain differences in prevalence of social fears across a broad range of sociodemographic covariates.

Conclusions

Among individuals with at least one social fear and those with DSM-IV SAD the latent structure of social fears appears to be best described by three factors, although this may partially depend on how the sample is specified. These results may help reconcile the findings of different numbers of factors identified in previous studies.

Keywords

Latent structureMIMICsocial anxiety disordersocial fears
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , January 2014 , pp. 361 - 370
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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