SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER SYMPTOMS IN SINGAPORE: PERSPECTIVE FROM POLYTOMOUS ITEM RESPONSE THEORY

Abstract

Using the Severity Measure of Social Anxiety Disorder (SM-SAD), the items and facets (i.e., emotional, cognitive, physiological, avoidance behaviours, and coping behaviours) of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) symptoms were examined from the perspective of Item Response Theory (IRT). It was found that Singaporean college students (N = 1039) generally have more severe anxiety, and cognitive symptoms of SAD. Singaporean students were also generally more likely to prepare for a social event as a coping behaviour for their SAD. Substance and alcohol usage is generally low as a coping behaviour and provides very little discriminating ability between severity level of SAD. Gender differences were also examined using Differential Item Functioning (DIF). Being female is a risk factor for developing and having more severe SAD. More specifically, females, across all severity levels have higher anxious, cognitive, and some physiological symptoms. They are also more likely to display some avoidance behaviour. By focusing on the more severe symptoms of SAD, specialised treatment can be used to deal with SAD more effectively in Singapore. This could also help guide future research on Singapore-specific symptoms to better diagnosis SAD and its severity.