Gender Differences Associated with Social Phobia: A Developmental Perspective

Social phobia, a psychological disorder marked by intense fears in social situations, affects 6.7% of Canadians. Recent literature has found a strong and unique association between social phobia and behavioural inhibition (BI) (a temperamental factor). BI is believed to be a necessary precursor for the development of social phobia. Interestingly, BI appears to be more prevalent in females, which is also the case for the sex ratios in social phobia. Men and women also have different risk factors and outcomes with BI and social phobia. While men with BI are more likely to have a psychological and social burden than women, women tend to have more environmental risk factors for social phobia than men. Researchers have hypothesized that gender differences are likely due gender stereotype scripts, which affects caregivers’ and clinicians’ judgments of providing help in boys and girls who are vulnerable to social phobia. Beyond identifying behavioural characteristics, environmental risk factors and outcomes for boys and girls who have BI and social phobia, this review takes a developmental perspective to examine the developmental trajectory from BI to social phobia. As such, a study which measures BI, personality factors, and social phobia will be explored to understand how BI directly impacts personality, and thus social phobia. This developmental perspective suggests that BI and social phobia are connected at a dimensional level, with socio-environmental factors mediating boys’ and girls’ outcomes.