Social anxiety disorder (SAD) now affects nearly one in seven adults and has increased by 71 per cent since 2002, making it one of the most common mental health problems in the country, according to a new Canadian study.
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a mental health condition characterized by an intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations, often leading to significant distress, impaired interpersonal and work performance, reduced quality of life, and significant economic costs to society. “Social anxiety is becoming more common in Canada, and understanding why this increase is occurring is essential to improving mental health support,” said Tak Lai Nelly Chau, MSW graduate from the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) at the University of Toronto.
The survey found that nearly 14 per cent of Canadian adults have experienced social anxiety at some point in their lives, up from just over 8 per cent in 2002.
Although the study did not examine the reasons for the increase in social anxiety, the authors hypothesize that recent social changes, such as increased use of social media and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, may be contributing to the increase.
young people are most at risk
This study shows a strong pattern. That means younger Canadians are much more likely to experience social anxiety than older adults. About one in four, or 24%, of people aged 20 to 24 had social anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, compared to just 6.2% of people aged 65 and older.
This may be due to digital communication and a decrease in face-to-face interactions.
Young adulthood is a critical life stage with heightened social pressures and may increase vulnerability to social anxiety. Add to this the experiences of increased isolation during the pandemic, increased pressure to achieve certain ideals on social media, and increased polarization, and these pressures are sure to intensify. ”
Stephen A. Oliver, MSW graduate from FIFSW, University of Toronto
Influenced by early life experiences and childhood trauma
The study also found that early life experiences were strongly associated with social anxiety disorder. People who experienced sexual abuse or witnessed domestic violence in childhood had significantly higher rates of social anxiety disorder.
The prevalence of social anxiety across the lifespan is also associated with chronic pain, multiple health conditions, and substance use disorders, indicating that social anxiety often overlaps with other challenges.
“These findings highlight the importance of a life course approach to understanding mental health,” said Esme Fuller-Thomson, director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging and professor at FIFSW at the University of Toronto. “Early life experiences can cast a long shadow on adult mental health.”
Social support makes a difference
This study showed that people with low social support, or who feel like they have no one to turn to, are much more likely to develop social anxiety disorder.
At the same time, people who reported that spirituality was important in their lives were less likely to suffer from social anxiety.
“Although our study did not directly test a treatment, there is strong evidence from other studies that cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective for social anxiety. Given that it affects one in four Canadian youth, it is essential that we improve access to these evidence-based supports,” said Fuller-Thomson.
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Reference magazines:
Chow, T.-LN, others. (2026). Social anxiety disorder in Canada: Sociodemographics and psychosocial correlates. Psychiatric research. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2026.117252. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178126003124?via%3Dihub
