Comorbid Conditions Symptom Tests

[Screener] Social Anxiety Test for Teens

Take this free social anxiety test to see if your teen may be showing signs of social anxiety disorder.

By ADDitude Editors Verified Updated on September 16, 2024
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Social anxiety disorder is a common mental health condition that can significantly impact a teenager’s daily life. About 10% of teens have been diagnosed with the disorder,1 though its actual prevalence is likely higher, especially as anxiety rates in adolescents have skyrocketed in recent years, prompting the U.S. Surgeon General to issue an advisory that warned of a youth mental health crisis.

Teens with social anxiety disorder experience persistent and excessive fear in social settings that goes beyond shyness or nervousness. They worry so much about being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in front of others that they avoid activities they would otherwise enjoy. Social anxiety often manifests as physical symptoms like sweating, trembling, or a racing heart, as well as emotional signs like irritability, self-doubt, and withdrawal from social interactions.

Social anxiety disorder is associated with other mental health conditions, including ADHD. “Many teens and young adults with ADHD are susceptible to social anxiety due to executive functioning challenges that impair emotional control, working memory, and self-awareness (metacognition),” writes Sharon Saline, Psy.D. “They may avoid specific triggering situations such as in-person classes or feel intensely nervous and uncomfortable in any social environment.”

Recognizing the signs of social anxiety disorder in your child is crucial for early intervention and support. Answer the questions in this self-test to help you assess whether your teen may be showing symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Share the results with your child’s doctor.

My teen fears striking up conversations with strangers and meeting unfamiliar people, even other teens.

The thought of being observed doing anything — i.e., eating, drinking, playing sports, ordering food, or speaking on the phone or in class — fills my teen with worry.

My teen constantly worries that others will pick up on their anxiety — through blushing or sweating, for example — and tease or humiliate them for it.

Some social situations cause my teen to cry, throw tantrums, tremble, and/or freeze and clam up.

If my teen can’t avoid social situations that provoke anxiety, they’ll endure them — with lots of fear and unease.

My child worries about coming off as stupid, weak, boring, and/or unlikable to others.

My child often asks to or has missed school and extracurricular activities because of social anxiety.

My teen avoids parties, get-togethers, and generally spending time with others, even same-age peers. They don’t seem to like to be around other people.

My teen has trouble literally speaking up in social settings; they speak with an overly soft voice.

Holding eye contact is difficult for my teen.

My teen has trouble asking their friends to hang out for fear that they’ll be rejected.

Can’t see the self-test questions above? Click here to open this test in a new window.

The questions in this social anxiety test for teens are informed, in part, by criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). This social anxiety test for teens is designed to screen for the possibility of SAD symptoms, and it is intended for personal use only. This social anxiety test for teens is not intended as a diagnostic tool.

Social Anxiety Test: Next Steps

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1 National Institute of Mental Health. Social Anxiety Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/social-anxiety-disorder#part_2642