Gender Differences in Young Adults with Social Phobia

Aim: To examine the gender differences in young adults with clinical manifestation of social phobia.

Study Design: analytical, cross-sectional cohort study

Place and Duration of Study: Psychiatric Hospital- Skopje, Centre for Mental Health- Centre, between January 2012 and June 2013

Method: The severity of social phobia was measured with the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). The questionnaire was administered to 65 patients (age range 18 to 25, 53% female), diagnosed according to DSM-IV with social phobia, without co-morbidity of other mental disorders.

Results: Statistically significant differences between the examined groups (male and female) were found. These findings confirm that female young patients with social phobia are showing more severe fear and avoidant behaviour in speaking to anyone in authority, giving speeches, talking to people they don’t know, activities in which they are the centre of attention, while male young patients with social phobia are showing more severe fear and avoidant behaviour if they are criticized, with statistical significance p<0.01.

Conclusion: Female young adults with social phobia are showing more severe fear and avoidant behaviour if they assume that other people are looking and monitoring them, while male young adults are showing more severe fear and avoidant behaviour if they are criticized.