Examining the Psychometric Network Structure of Social Anxiety: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The network approach offers a novel perspective for conceptualizing the psychopathology of social anxiety disorder (SAD). This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on the psychometric network structures of social anxiety symptoms and identify future research directions. A total of 61 studies were identified through searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Open Science Framework databases, employing the keywords (‘social anxiety disorder’ OR ‘social phobia’ OR ‘social anxiety’) AND (‘network analysis’). Of these, 10 studies examined the network structures of social anxiety symptoms in patients with SAD, 17 investigated such structures in individuals without an SAD diagnosis and 34 explored networks of other symptoms that included social anxiety symptoms. Most studies were conducted on Western and Chinese populations, underscoring the need for broader cross-cultural comparisons. The central symptoms in SAD networks were fear and anxiety related to performing and interacting with groups, engaging with strangers or unfamiliar individuals, participating in events and being the center of attention. However, the network structures of SAD and related symptoms remain underexplored, with existing studies offering only partial insights. This review emphasizes the need for future research to comprehensively assess social anxiety symptoms and adopt cross-cultural comparative designs to deepen the understanding of SAD psychopathology. These findings provide a foundation for future research on SAD utilizing network analysis.