Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of Two Short Forms of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and the Social Phobia Scale

Authors

Allura L. Le Blanc, Temple University
Laura C. Bruce, Temple University
Richard G. Heimberg, Temple UniversityFollow
Debra A. Hope, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Carlos Blanco, Columbia University College of Physicians and SurgeonsFollow
Franklin R. Schneier, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Michael R. Liebowitz, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Published in Assessment 21:3 (2014), pp. 312–323; doi: 10.1177/1073191114521279

Comments

Copyright © 2014 Allura L. Le Blanc, Laura C. Bruce, Richard G. Heimberg, Debra A. Hope, Carlos Blanco, Franklin R. Schneier, and Michael R. Liebowitz; published by Sage Publications. Used by permission. http://asm.sagepub.com

Abstract

The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Social Phobia Scale are widely used measures of social anxiety. Using data from individuals with social anxiety disorder (n = 435) and nonanxious controls (n = 86), we assessed the psychometric properties of two independently developed short forms of these scales. Indices of convergent and discriminant validity, diagnostic specificity, sensitivity to treatment, and readability were examined. Comparisons of the two sets of short forms to each other and the original long forms were conducted. Both sets of scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency in the patient sample, showed expected patterns of correlation with measures of related and unrelated constructs, adequately discriminated individuals with social anxiety disorder from those without, and showed decreases in scores over the course of cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or pharmacotherapy. However, some significant differences in scale performance were noted. Implications for the clinical assessment of social anxiety are discussed.