Lifestyle and social network in individuals with high level of social phobia/anxiety symptoms: a community-based study

Abstract

Aim: To study the lifestyle issues and social network in a community-based sample of individuals with a high level of social phobia/anxiety symptoms (SPAS) compared to controls, and to explore the factors that were most strongly associated with unhealthy lifestyle and a small social network.

Methods: The MINI-SPIN test was administered in The Oslo Health Study (HUBRO), and the scores used to identify persons with a high level of SPAS. The SPAS group consisted of 446 individuals aged 30, 40 or 45 years defined by MINI-SPIN score > or =8. We randomly selected five controls for each case among those with a MINI-SPIN score of 0-7 (N = 2,230). Information was collected with questionnaires, physical measurements and blood samples.

Results: The SPAS group showed significantly higher prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle than controls, which did not hold up in multivariate analyses. The SPAS group showed significantly more alcohol problems and higher future risk of coronary heart disease among females, but not in males. Low level of physical activity in general, and in spare time, was significantly associated with the SPAS group. Small social network was significantly more common in the SPAS group and that result held up in multivariate analysis. In that analysis not being in paired relationship and mental comorbidity were also significantly associated with a small social network.

Conclusion: Unhealthy lifestyle and a small social network places younger adults with SPAS under considerable risk for the development of future morbidity. This risk calls for counseling by general practitioners in such individuals.