Crippling shyness, more commonly referred to as “social anxiety disorder”, often begins in childhood or early adolescence and can plague a person for decades, according to a new Statistics Canada study.

The study found that people aged 15-24 were most likely to experience social anxiety disorder, followed by middle-aged and older people. Women were also more likely than men to be affected by the disorder.

Symptoms include feelings of extreme discomfort in social or work situations due to a fear of being embarrassed or scrutinized. In many people, crippling shyness lasted for 20 years.

Social anxiety disorder is associated with lower education, lower income or dependence on social assistance, social isolation, general dissatisfaction with life and health, and a lower likelihood of marriage. People who never married or who are divorced were more likely to experience crippling shyness than married people.