A Study on Social Anxiety among College Students

  • Authors

    • Dr. Lakshmi Narayanan Associate Professor, Bharathidasan University, India. Author

    DOI:

    https://doi.org/10.67228/3071561X/IJIRHT-2020PI1B8Y

    Published 03-04-2020

  • Social Anxiety, College Students, Mental Health, Academic Stress, Psychological Well-Being, Student Behavior, Anxiety Disorder, Higher Education

    Issue

    Vol. 3 No. 1 (2020)

    Section

    Articles

    How to Cite

    [1]
    L. Narayanan, “A Study on Social Anxiety among College Students”, IJIRHT, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 01–14, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.67228/3071561X/IJIRHT-2020PI1B8Y.

  • Abstract

    Social anxiety has become a growing psychological concern among college students due to academic pressure, social expectations, and increased digital communication. This study examines the prevalence, causes, and effects of social anxiety among university students, focusing on factors such as peer pressure, public speaking, academic performance, family expectations, and online interaction. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected through structured questionnaires based on standardized anxiety scales. Statistical analysis revealed that many students experience moderate to high levels of social anxiety, particularly in situations involving class participation, presentations, and new social environments. Female students reported higher anxiety in interpersonal communication, while male students showed greater anxiety in performance-based activities. First-year students were found to experience the highest levels of anxiety due to academic and social adjustment challenges. The study highlights the need for early psychological interventions, including counseling services, peer-support programs, and mental health awareness initiatives in educational institutions to improve student well-being and reduce social anxiety.

  • References

    [1] Aaron T. Beck, A. T., Emery, G., & Greenberg, R. L. (1985). Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective. New York: Basic Books.

    [2] David M. Clark, D. M., & Adrian Wells, A. (1995). A cognitive model of social phobia. In R. G. Heimberg et al. (Eds.), Social Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment. New York: Guilford Press.

    [3] Richard G. Heimberg, R. G., Liebowitz, M. R., Hope, D. A., & Schneier, F. R. (1995). Social Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment. New York: Guilford Press.

    [4] Ronald C. Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., & Walters, E. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593–602.

    [5] Stefan G. Hofmann, S. G., & Jasper A. J. Smits, J. A. J. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69(4), 621–632.

    [6] Mark R. Leary, M. R., & Kowalski, R. M. (1995). Social anxiety. New York: Guilford Press.

    [7] Jonathan R. T. Davidson, J. R. T., Hughes, D. L., George, L. K., & Blazer, D. G. (1993). The epidemiology of social phobia. Psychological Medicine, 23(3), 709–718.

    [8] Jean M. Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood. New York: Atria Books.

    [9] Sherry Turkle, S. (2015). Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. New York: Penguin Press.

    [10] Larry D. Rosen, L. D., Lim, A. F., Felt, J., et al. (2014). Media and technology use predicts ill-being among children, preteens and teenagers. Computers in Human Behavior, 35, 364–375.

    [11] Amanda Lenhart, A. (2015). Teens, social media & technology overview. Pew Research Center.

    [12] Patricia A. Jennings, P. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). The prosocial classroom: Teacher social and emotional competence in relation to student outcomes. Review of Educational Research, 79(1), 491–525.

    [13] Peter J. Norton, P. J., & Abbott, M. J. (2017). The efficacy of transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy: A review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 225, 147–155.

    [14] Michael A. Liebowitz, M. R. (1987). Social phobia. Modern Problems of Pharmacopsychiatry, 22, 141–173.

    [15] Sonja Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111–131.

  • Downloads