Social Anxiety Test
How the Scales are Structured
Who Usually Takes This Test?
See How You Compare
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Example Questions From the Test
- No
- Probably not
- Probably yes
- Yes
- No
- Probably no
- Probably yes
- Yes
- No
- Probably not
- Probably yes
- Yes
/https://cdn.freudly.ai/media/tests/1078/image/1762438032_day_image_20251106_140711.png "Social Anxiety and Social Phobia Questionnaire, OSTSPh Test")
This self-report measure is designed to assess fear of negative evaluation and anxiety across common interpersonal and performance situations. Developed by Richard G. Heimberg and David M. Clark, the Social Anxiety Test uses the Social Anxiety and Social Phobia Questionnaire (OSTSPh) to provide a structured, multidimensional picture of social anxiety severity — identifying both overall symptom intensity and the specific situations in which anxiety and avoidance are most pronounced. It consists of 29 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete.
Why Take a Social Anxiety Test
Social anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions worldwide — yet it is also one of the most frequently misidentified. Many people with clinically significant social anxiety attribute their avoidance, self-consciousness, and post-event rumination to shyness, introversion, or lack of confidence rather than recognizing it as a treatable condition. Years can pass before the pattern is named clearly enough to seek help.
A structured test for social anxiety cuts through this ambiguity. It provides a concrete, situation-specific picture of where fear of evaluation is most intense — whether in formal expert situations, one-on-one interactions, group settings, or performance contexts. This level of detail matters for treatment: CBT for social anxiety is most effective when the specific triggering situations and avoidance patterns have been clearly identified. This social anxiety quiz gives both individuals and clinicians a structured starting point for exactly that conversation.
For people already in therapy, repeated administration of this measure allows tracking of whether avoidance and anxiety are decreasing in the specific domains targeted in treatment — providing data-based evidence of progress.
What the Assessment Measures
The OSTSPh yields an overall Social Anxiety and Social Phobia score plus five subscale scores, each reflecting a distinct dimension of social anxiety:
- Being observed and at the center of attention (S1) — anxiety and self-consciousness when being watched, evaluated, or singled out in front of others
- Post-situational rumination and drive to control anxiety (S2) — tendency to replay and over-analyze social interactions after the fact, and the effort invested in managing anxiety in evaluative situations
- Emotional restraint in professional situations (S3) — tendency to suppress and conceal emotional responses and visible anxiety symptoms (blushing, trembling) in professional or formal contexts
- Anxiety initiating formal interactions (S4) — discomfort when taking initiative in formal or unfamiliar situations, especially when outcomes feel uncontrolled and criticism is anticipated
- Avoidance of direct contact in expert situations (S5) — avoidance of or distress during direct contact in evaluative or expert interactions such as presentations, assessments, or authority conversations
Total scores range from 0 to 89. Scores of 0–29 indicate low social anxiety; 30–49 moderate; and 50–89 high social anxiety severity. The subscale profile identifies which dimensions are driving overall anxiety — supporting more targeted treatment planning.
Who This Assessment Is For
This Social Anxiety Test is appropriate for any adult who notices persistent discomfort, avoidance, or fear of judgment in social or performance situations — whether in professional settings, academic environments, or everyday interpersonal interactions. It is widely used by people preparing for a clinical consultation, by students and professionals who struggle with presentations or networking, and by clinicians seeking a validated social anxiety screening tool to support intake assessment and CBT treatment planning.
Clinical Validity and Use in Practice
The OSTSPh is grounded in the validated social anxiety measurement tradition of Heimberg and Clark and is suitable for clinical screening and research settings. Results from this social anxiety disorder test support clinical formulation and treatment planning when interpreted alongside interview data and other assessment information — they do not establish a diagnosis on their own. Formal diagnosis of social anxiety disorder requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation by a qualified mental health professional.