The Social Thoughts and Beliefs Scale: Psychometric Properties and its Relation with Interpersonal Functioning in a Non-Clinical Sample

Abstract

Cognitive theorists maintain that maladaptive cognitions play an important role in the formation and maintenance of social anxiety disorder. The Social Thoughts and Beliefs Scale (STABS; Turner et al. Psychol Assessment 15:384-391, 2003) was developed to assess the broad domain of cognitions associated with social anxiety in a clinical sample. The present study with 469 college students examined the applicability of the STABS with a non-clinical sample and its relation with social anxiety symptoms and indices of interpersonal functioning. The STABS scales showed good reliability (internal consistency), adequate convergent and discriminant validity, and acceptable concurrent and incremental concurrent validity in predicting social interaction anxiety or outcomes of interpersonal functioning. The STABS appears to have good psychometric properties measuring two dimensions, assessing thoughts of social comparisons and thoughts of social ineptness, and appears to be appropriate for use with non-clinical samples.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Individual Cognitive Therapy, Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Attentional Placebo for Adolescent Social Phobia

“…It has shown excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability and discriminant validity [29,30]. Acceptable concurrent validity has also been documented [30]. Chronbach's α for STABS in this study was 0.96.…”

“…The Social Thoughts and Beliefs Scale (STABS) [29] is a 21-item self-report inventory designed to assess cognition in persons with SP. It has shown excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability and discriminant validity [29,30]. Acceptable concurrent validity has also been documented [30].…”

Erratum to: A New Measure of the Maladaptive Self-Beliefs in Social Anxiety: Psychometric Properties in a Non-Clinical Sample

“…Interestingly, Turner et al (2003) found that the STABS is composed of two factors; the first factor is "Social Comparison" and contains beliefs that other people are more socially competent, and the second factor is "Social Ineptness" and contains beliefs related to behaving awkwardly or appearing anxious in social situations. In an undergraduate sample, Fergus et al (2009) confirmed the Social Comparison and Social Ineptness factors of the STABS, and both factors (along with the total STABS score) were positively associated with measures of social anxiety (rs ranged from .63 to .80). Besides the STABS, Rodebaugh (2009) has recently developed the Core Extrusion Schema (CES) measure that assesses the tendency for high socially anxious individuals to conceal aspects of the self due to fear associated with perceived negative evaluation.…”

Does Rumination Predict the Strength of Maladaptive Self-Beliefs Characteristic of Social Anxiety Over Time?

“…For example, Beazley et al (2001) found a positive association between social anxiety and negative thoughts (as measured by the Social Interaction Self-Statement Test). Furthermore, Fergus et al (2009) reported a positive association between social anxiety and cognitions that are characteristic of social phobia (as measured by the Social Thoughts and Beliefs Scale).…”