Effect of Social Anxiety Disorder on Specialty Choice Among Residents and Interns in Saudi Arabia: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to assess the association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and specialty preference among medical residents and interns in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A multi-center cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among medical interns and residents across Saudi Arabia. A validated online questionnaire was distributed between July 12 and September 2, 2023. Social anxiety was measured using the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), a 20-item self-reported tool. A score of ≥36 was used to identify significant levels of social anxiety.

Results: A total of 196 interns and residents participated in the study. The most preferred specialties included surgical subspecialties (31.1%), followed by medical subspecialties (19.9%). A total of 47 participants (24%) reported that fear influenced their specialty choice, while 63 (32.1%) exhibited significant levels of social anxiety. Social anxiety was significantly higher among interns (59.4%) than residents (33.3% for R1 and 35.1% for R2), with none reported among R5 residents (P =0.001). Fear of social interaction was most common in paramedical (88.9%) and radiology (69.2%) specialties.

Conclusion: Nearly one in three residents and interns experienced significant social anxiety, which influenced their specialty selection-particularly toward less patient- facing fields such as radiology and paramedical specialties. These findings underscore the importance of early psychological screening and support in medical training, which could inform medical education reforms and workforce planning to ensure balanced specialty distribution in the healthcare system.