What causes social anxiety disorder?

According to a group of American and German researchers, social anxiety disorder is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic factors and child-rearing methods. Extremely embarrassing events in childhood are also thought to be contributing factors. It does appear to run in families, and children of anxious parents are more likely to develop the anxiety themselves. Children who have been overly protected or rejected by their parents, too, are more likely to develop social anxiety.

Genetic Factors

Children of parents with an array of disorders including social anxiety disorder, general anxiety disorder, and depression are much more significantly at risk of developing social anxiety disorder themselves. As children, they might show signs of behavioral inhibition, which is a tendency to react negatively to new situations or activities. Kids who display behavioral inhibition are much more likely to have parents with social anxiety disorder, and 20%-25% of small children who have this personality trait will develop social anxiety disorder as teenagers. Studies show that, of all the personality traits, shyness and inhibition are the most genetically predetermined.

Child-Rearing Factors

If a child has parents who are over-protective, they are more likely to develop social anxiety disorder. Conversely, if a child is rejected by their parents, they are also more likely to develop the disorder. Children with alcoholic parents, emotionally or physically abusive parents, or who have been abandoned by their parents are at risk as well. Being raised by extremely nervous parents can be a contributing factor.

The Embarrassment Factor

Children with speech problems or a physical disfigurement will tend to be extremely uncomfortable in social situations. Having extremely embarrassing things happen in social situations as a child also contributes to development of the disease, although a predisposition to the disorder is needed on some level for development to eventually occur as a result of embarrassment.