The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS)

Here are 24 social situations for you to consider.
In the first column‚ rate your level of fear on a scale of 0 (meaning no fear) to 3 (meaning total fear). Circle the number.
In the second column‚ rate how much you would avoid the situation on a scale of 0 (meaning no avoidance) to 3 (meaning total avoidance). Circle the number.
Situation
Fear Level
Avoidance
1. Using a telephone in public
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
2. Participating in a small group activity
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
3. Eating in public
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
4. Drinking with others
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
5. Talking to someone in authority
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
6. Public Speaking
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
7. Going to a party
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
8. Working while being observed
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
9. Writing while being observed
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
9. Writing while being observed
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
10. Calling someone you don’t know very well
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
11. Talking face to face with someone you don’t know well
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
12. Meeting strangers
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
13. Urinating in a public bathroom
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
14. Entering a room when others are already seated
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
15. Being the center of attention
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
16. Speaking up at a meeting
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
17. Taking a test of your ability‚ skill‚ or knowledge
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
18. Expressing disagreement or disapproval to someone you don’t know very well
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
19. Looking someone who you don’t know very well straight in the eyes
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
20. Giving a prepared oral talk to a group
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
21. Speaking to a person with view to a romantic/sexual relationship
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
22. Returning goods to a store for a refund
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
23. Giving a party
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
24. Resisting a high pressure sales person
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
 
clinical (α = .95) and non-clinical (α = .94) samples (Fresco et al.‚ 2001)
 
Avoidance Rating: 0=Never avoid this situation‚ 1=Occasionally avoid this situation (up to 33% of the time)‚ 2= Often avoid this situation (33 to 67%of the time)‚ 3=Usually avoid this situation (67 to 100% of the time)
Fear or Anxiety Rating: 0=No fear or anxiety in this situation‚ 1=Mild fear or anxiety in this situation‚ 2= Moderate fear or anxiety in this situation‚ 3=Severe fear or anxiety in this situation.
OR
Avoidance Rating: Never (0 %)‚ Occasionally (1-33 %)‚ Often ( 34-66%)‚       Usually (67-100%)
Fear Rating: None‚ Mild‚ Moderate‚ Severe
Add both columns for your final result.
The scoring scale:
0-54:Mild Social Anxiety
55-65: Moderate social anxiety
66-80:Marked social anxiety
81-95:Severe social anxiety
Greater than 95: Very severe social phobia (anxiety).
 

Liebowitz‚ M.‚ Heimberg‚ R.‚ Fresco‚ D.‚ Travers‚ J.‚ & Stein‚ M. (2000). Social phobiaor social anxiety disorder: What’s in a name? Archives of General Psychiatry‚ 57(2)‚ 191-192.

Liebowitz‚ M. R. (1987). Social phobia. Modern Problems of Pharmacopsychiatry‚ 22‚141-173.

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