Introduction
SPIN explores social anxiety through 17 statements about fear, avoidance and physical reactions. Its questions include situations involving authority figures, attention from others and being observed while doing something.
Social anxiety involves more than whether someone is quiet or outgoing. Blushing, trembling, fear of embarrassment and avoiding a situation can form different parts of the experience. The original SPIN study examined these features together; its focus differs from a broad measure of general worry.
When choosing between SPIN and the Liebowitz scale, consider the detail you want to describe. SPIN brings together several aspects in a short questionnaire; the Liebowitz scale asks separately about fear and avoidance in specific situations. A real example of an invitation declined or a task avoided can help explain the answers.
Instructions
Please read each statement and click in the column that indicates how much the statement applied to you over the past week.
Scoring and result metrics
The result page reports a local screening score for this questionnaire. Use the score range, any subscale scores, and the interpretation band together rather than treating one number as a diagnosis.
- Score range
- 0-68
- Items scored
- 17
- Result indicators
- Total score / Interpretation band when available
Score interpretation bands
- 0-20Lower range
Scores of 20 and below are generally not indicative of social anxiety.
- 21-30Mild social anxiety
Scores in the 21-30 range are indicative of mild social anxiety.
- 31-40Moderate social anxiety
Scores in the 31-40 range are indicative of moderate social anxiety.
- 41-50Severe social anxiety
Scores in the 41-50 range are indicative of severe social anxiety.
- 51-68Very severe social anxiety
Scores of 51 and above are indicative of very severe social anxiety.
Interpretation bands summarize screening thresholds from the questionnaire source material. Higher scores usually indicate more of the measured concern unless the tool notes a different scoring rule.
Tool information
- Version
- 17 questions
- Administration
- Self-report
- Intended audience
- Adults and older adolescents reviewing social fear, avoidance, and physical discomfort in social situations
Sources
- Copyright ©, Jonathan Davidson. 1995, 2008, 2015. All rights reserved. Permission to use the SPIN must be obtained from the copyright holder at [email protected]. The SPIN may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
- KM Connor, et al. Psychometric Properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN): New Self-Rating Scale. British Journ Psych. 2000.
- Klaus Ranta, et al. Age and Gender Differences in Social Anxiety Symptoms During Adolescence: The Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) as a Measure. 153(3): Psych Research 261-270. December 2007.
Related tests
Explore related screening tools in the same topic area.
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
The Liebowitz scale examines fear and avoidance separately across 24 social or performance situations.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Item Scale (GAD-7)
GAD-7 brings together seven experiences related to anxiety, including persistent worry, difficulty relaxing, restlessness and irritability.
Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)
The Penn State Worry Questionnaire concentrates on the experience of worrying: how persistent it feels, how difficult it is to set aside and how widely it spreads across situations.