Background and purpose: Social phobia is a prevalent psychiatric disorder that negatively influences different aspects of life. Developing a simple and effective tool is necessary in epidemiological studies and clinical screening to assess the individuals suffering from social phobia. This study aimed at investigating the reliability and validity of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) among students with social anxiety.

Materials and methods: The participants included 110 students in Lorestan Pyame Noor University who suffered from social anxiety. They were selected using cluster sampling. The reliability of SPIN was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, split-half reliability, Spearman-Brown coefficient and, test-retest. The validity of the instrument was evaluated by investigating the relationship between SPIN subscales and other scales including SCL-90-R, Cognitive Error Questionnaire (CEQ), Self-Esteem Rating Scale (SERS), and Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) using the Pierson's correlation coefficient.

Results: Convergent validity of the SPIN by SCL- 90-R and CEQ was r= 0.83 and r=0.47, respectively. Its discriminate validity was r= -0.70, r= -0.44 using the SERS and MBRSQ, respectively (α<0.001). The Cronbach’s alpha, Spearman-Brown coefficient and test-retest of SPIN was 0.97, 0.97 and 0.82 respectively (α<0.0001).

Conclusion: Social Phobia Inventory can be used as a valid and reliable tool in investigating the mental health issues in students.