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Fear / Anxiety
Avoidance (past week)
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Categories: Assessment , Health & Fitness , Psychology
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The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale – Self-Report converts fear and avoidance across 24 everyday social scenarios into objective numbers. The scale distinguishes ordinary shyness from clinically significant social anxiety by measuring two behaviour patterns that often remain hidden during casual self-reflection.

This online tool asks you to rate fear and avoidance for each scenario, then sums the 48 answers into a 0–144 total. An interactive gauge visualises your position on five empirically validated severity bands and presents tailored guidance you can use immediately.

Completing the checklist before a presentation or reunion can reveal when ordinary nerves cross into impairment, helping you decide whether skills practice or professional support is warranted. Answer honestly; rushing skews results. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Technical Details:

Concept Overview

The LSAS-SR operationalises social-anxiety severity by separately quantifying emotional fear and behavioural avoidance. Summing these dimensions captures both the felt distress and its real-world impact, producing a single continuous score highly correlated with clinician-rated outcomes and treatment response.

Core Equation

T= ∑i=124 Fi+Ai
  • Fi – fear rating for item (0 None … 3 Severe).
  • Ai – avoidance rating for the same item (0 Never … 3 Usually).
  • T – total LSAS-SR score (0 – 144).

Interpretation Bands

Score RangeSeverity BandIndicative Impact
0 – 29NoneNo meaningful social restraint.
30 – 49MildOccasional discomfort, minimal role conflict.
50 – 64ModerateStress in specific settings, coping skills useful.
65 – 79MarkedFrequent avoidance limits progress; therapy advisable.
80 – 144SevereWidespread impairment, comprehensive treatment needed.

Variables & Parameters

  • fear – emotional intensity rating, 0–3 integer.
  • avoidance – behavioural frequency rating, 0–3 integer.
  • totalScore – computed sum, integer 0–144.
  • severityName – categorical label derived from totalScore.

Worked Example

You rate fear = 2 and avoidance = 1 for every item.
Total Fear = 48, Total Avoidance = 24, T = 72.
72 falls in the “Marked” band, signalling notable life interference.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Relies on honest self-report.
  • One-week recall window may miss longer patterns.
  • Severity bands were calibrated on treatment-seeking adults.
  • Does not capture panic or general anxiety.

Edge Cases & Error Sources

  • All zeros or dashes generate a “None” result by design.
  • Incomplete responses block scoring to prevent underestimation.
  • Uniform high fear but low avoidance can mask distress.
  • Browser locale changes while answering may reset progress.

Scientific Validity & References

Liebowitz (1987) introduced the LSAS; subsequent peer-reviewed studies confirm its reliability, convergent validity, and sensitivity to cognitive-behavioural or pharmacological treatment effects.

Privacy & Compliance

No personal data leaves your device; the assessment operates entirely client-side, aligning with GDPR principles of data minimisation.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Follow these steps to generate your LSAS-SR score.

  1. Press Start Assessment to reveal the first scenario.
  2. Select a fear rating and an avoidance rating for the highlighted item.
  3. Continue through the list; progress updates automatically.
  4. Review completed items in the side list and revisit any you wish to change.
  5. When every pair is answered, read your score, severity band, and guidance below the gauge.

FAQ:

How long does it take? Most people finish in three to five minutes, depending on reading speed and reflection.
Is my data stored? No. Answers stay in your browser’s memory and vanish when you refresh or close the page.
What does the total score mean? It quantifies combined fear and avoidance; the coloured band beneath the gauge explains practical impact.
Can I retake the scale? Yes. Reloading the page clears previous answers so you can measure change over time.
Should I seek help? If your score falls in Marked or Severe bands—or your distress feels unmanageable—consult a qualified mental-health professional.

Glossary:

Avoidance
Deliberately steering clear of a feared situation.
Fear Score
Intensity of anxiety felt in the moment imagined.
Severity Band
Categorical label mapping total score to impact.
Self-Report
Assessment completed by the respondent, not an interviewer.
Social Anxiety
Persistent fear of negative evaluation in social settings.