CULTURAL-FACTORS IN SOCIAL ANXIETY - A COMPARISON OF SOCIAL PHOBIA SYMPTOMS AND TAIJIN-KYOFUSHO

The present study examined two forms of culturally-defined social anxi ety: social anxiety or phobia, as defined by DSM-IV; (i.e., a concern of public scrutiny or embarrassment) and Taijin Kyofusho (TKS), a Japa nese form of social anxiety centered around concern for offending othe rs with inappropriate behavior or offensive appearance. These versions of social anxiety are also examined in relation to culturally-determi ned self definition as independent and interdependent. One hundred eig hty-one U.S. students and 161 students enrolled in Japanese universiti es were administered scales to assess social anxiety and phobia and TK S symptoms and behaviors, as well as construal of self as independent or interdependent. Factor analyses of the three scales used to assess social anxiety yielded three factors, each clearly corresponding to th e respective scales and defining TKS and DSM-defined social anxiety. A case analysis indicated that there was:in approximate 50% co-occurren ce between high scorers on the TKS and social phobia scales. Multiple regression analyses resulted in a different set of predictors of TKS a nd;SPS for the U.S. and Japanese respondents. Results were interpreted as suggesting that cultural variables can mediate the expression of s ocial anxiety but that both forms or social anxiety can be found in ea ch sample. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.