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The experience of disability and quality of life in social anxiety disorder
Author(s) -
Hambrick James P.,
Turk Cynthia L.,
Heimberg Richard G.,
Schneier Franklin R.,
Liebowitz Michael R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.10110
Subject(s) - quality of life (healthcare) , anxiety , life satisfaction , psychology , clinical psychology , medical model of disability , social relationship , social anxiety , psychiatry , psychotherapist , social psychology
Although disability is a concept most often associated with role dysfunction, and quality of life is most often associated with life satisfaction, these terms are frequently used interchangeably in the literature. In contrast, this study proposes that disability and quality of life are independent but related constructs. Additionally, we propose that disability partially mediates the relationship between symptoms and quality of life. That is, greater symptoms are associated with more impairment, which is, in turn, associated with less satisfaction with one's life. Ninety‐six individuals with social anxiety disorder were given measures of social anxiety symptoms, disability, and quality of life. The results of the study suggest that disability and quality of life are, in fact, distinct concepts, and the experience of disability partially mediates the relationship between a patient's experience of symptoms and his or her perceived life satisfaction. Depression and Anxiety 18:46–50, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.