Social anxiety and work: a qualitative investigation in a low-income, minority sample

ABSTRACT

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is associated with employment problems. However, understanding of mechanisms through which SAD impacts employment is limited, and few studies examine employment experiences among racial minorities and economically disadvantaged individuals with SAD. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 unemployed individuals with SAD. Participants described interactions between feelings of social anxiety and anger, in addition to more typical SAD symptoms. Participants also perceived negative judgments from employers based on socio-economic status, appearance, and criminal histories. Participants reported using a range of coping strategies for social anxiety. Clinical implications related to the interplay between poverty, unemployment, and SAD are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Social anxiety
• employment
• poverty
• minorities
• qualitative methods

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health grant [1R34MH083031-01] awarded to Dr. Himle.