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Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS)

Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) Test

Understand how much you avoid social situations and how distressed you feel around others in about 6 minutes. A quick 28 item snapshot that supports clearer treatment planning and tracking over time.

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Questions: 286 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

20,734 views

2,087 completions

1,734 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

15/28

Social Avoidance and Distress (SAaD)

Assesses the degree of social avoidance and the level of distress or discomfort experienced in social interactions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 15: Moderate | 16 – 28: High

A score of 15 falls in the Moderate range, indicating noticeable social discomfort and some tendency to avoid social situations without reaching the highest severity band.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People avoiding social situations

41%OF USERS

They often skip gatherings, meetings, or calls and want to understand how strong their avoidance and discomfort really are.

Clients starting therapy

34%OF USERS

They take it at the beginning of counseling to clarify whether their struggles are shyness, social anxiety, or a broader personality pattern.

Students and researchers

25%OF USERS

They use it in studies or screening to measure social discomfort and avoidance and compare results across groups.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
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Interpretation

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Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

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Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

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See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAaDS)

Average

12.5

Normal range

7.3 — 17.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this scale measure?

It measures avoidance of social situations, distress during social contact, and concern about negative evaluation. Scores reflect the intensity and frequency of these reactions.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adolescents and adults in clinical, counseling, or research settings. It is commonly used when social anxiety, interpersonal withdrawal, or related personality features are being evaluated.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

It includes 28 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Completion time may vary based on reading speed.

How should items be answered?

Select the option that best matches typical experience rather than a single recent event. Answer all items without overthinking; use the first accurate response.

How are results interpreted and used?

Higher scores generally indicate greater social avoidance and distress. Results should be interpreted alongside clinical information and may be paired with a measure of fear of negative evaluation for a more complete profile.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

social anxiety

This measure is designed to assess discomfort in social interactions and the tendency to avoid social situations. The Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) provides a brief self-report index of social avoidance and subjective distress associated with interpersonal contact.

It consists of 28 items and typically requires about 6 minutes to complete. Responses are used to characterize the frequency and intensity of avoidance and distress in social contexts, which may inform clinical formulation or research screening. The Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) was developed by Debra A. Hope and is commonly interpreted alongside other measures of social-evaluative concerns when a broader profile is needed.

Author: Debra A. Hope, richard-g-heimberg

Literature: Watson, D., & Friend, R. Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1969.; Leary, M. R. Social anxiousness: The construct and its measurement. Journal of Personality Assessment. 1983.

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