Europe is 2.3%. The 12-month prevalence rates in children and adolescents are comparable
to those in adults. Prevalence rates decrease  with age. The 12-mont h prevalence for older
adults ranges from 2% to 5%. In general, high er rates of social anxiety disorder are found
in females than in males in the general popu lation (with odds ratios ranging from 1.5 to
2.2), and the gender difference in prevalen ce is more pronounced in adolescents and
young adults. Gender rates are equivalent or slightly higher for males in clinical samples,