title: Social anxiety disorder in Saudi adolescent boys: Prevalence, subtypes, and parenting style as a risk factor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Available information on social anxiety disorder (SAD) in adolescents in Saudi Arabia is limited. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence, severity, and subtypes of SAD, and parenting style risk factors associated with SAD in the adolescent.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in two secondary schools for boys in Abha, Saudi Arabia during the Academic year 2013. To collect the data, a questionnaire eliciting information on background characteristics and parenting style as well as the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale Test (LSAS), for the evaluation of SAD, were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 454 students participated in the study. The age of the participants ranged between 15 and 20 years with a mean of 17.4 years. The prevalence of SAD was 11.7%. Around 36% and 11.4% of the students respectively had severe and more severe forms of SAD. Parenting style such as parental anger, criticism particularly in front of others, exaggerated protection, maltreatment and family provocation emerged as a significant risk factor for SAD. The independent predictors of SAD were a parental provocation and physical or emotional maltreatment by the parent (odds ratio [OR] = 3.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90-8.31 and OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 3.17-5.19, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of SAD in secondary school students at Abha is high. Parenting style risk factors for SAD are modifiable. In this context, a national program to improve mental health in this age group is crucial.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Senior Registrar, Administration Supervisor of Khamis Mushayt Sector, Ministry of Health, Aseer Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jaafar Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ghazwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shamsun N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Razia A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
keywords: Adolescents; parenting style; social anxiety disorder; subtypes