"Want to Be Alone"... 1 in 5 Adults Suffer from Severe Social Phobia

The Korean Society of Anxiety Disorders Announces Mental Health Survey Results
19.8% of Respondents Report Severe Social Anxiety Disorder

One in five adults rated their symptoms of ‘social anxiety disorder,’ characterized by fear of social situations involving exposure to others, as severe.

On the 16th, the Korean Anxiety Psychiatry Association, celebrating its 20th anniversary, announced the results of a national mental health survey conducted on 2,000 adult men and women nationwide. According to the survey, 19.8% of respondents reported severe symptoms of social anxiety disorder, and 38.6% reported moderate symptoms in the related questionnaire items.

Social anxiety disorder is also known as ‘social phobia.’ It is a condition where individuals feel anxiety and fear in social situations such as talking to strangers or giving speeches in front of many people, leading them to avoid such situations.

Since it involves intense anxiety and fear of embarrassment or awkwardness in daily life, it tends to occur more easily in people with perfectionist tendencies. It is also more likely to develop in those who experienced embarrassment or humiliation during childhood.

By gender, more women (23.2%) than men (16.5%) reported severe symptoms. By age group, relatively higher rates were found among younger generations, including women in their 30s (39.1%), women in their 20s (33.1%), men in their 20s (28.4%), and men in their 30s (27.7%).

The risk group for generalized anxiety disorder, characterized by uncontrollable and excessive anxiety and worry, was 11.4%. Additionally, 26.8% of respondents reported having experienced at least one panic attack in their lifetime. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were found in 31.3%. Panic attacks were more frequent in women, while obsessive-compulsive symptoms were more common in men.

Adults who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms accounted for 25.8%. The depression risk group was 18.0%, and the rate of suicidal thoughts was 12.2%.

Adults reporting health anxiety symptoms accounted for 32.3%, with a particularly high rate among men in their 40s (41.8%).

Kim Chan-hyung, professor of psychiatry at Severance Hospital and president of the Korean Anxiety Psychiatry Association, emphasized, “Various anxiety disorders and depression risk groups appeared at high levels,” adding, “Accurate assessment and treatment are necessary.”