Perceived Family Support Predicts Anxiety Level among Highly Anxious University Students
Keywords:
social anxiety, social support, family support, adolescence.Abstract
Higher level of social anxiety brings forth distress among individuals. More particularly among university adolescents which are compelled by their responsibilities to frequently interact with people, there is a need to explore ways through which social anxiety may be address. The present study, which use predictive-associative design, investigated upon the relationship between social anxiety and its dimensions to perceived social support (general, family, friends, significant others) among highly anxious undergraduate students (n=149). Statistical analysis revealed that perceived social support significantly predicts social anxiety when interacting with strangers, F(1, 147)=6.697, p=.011, R2=.044. Family support, on the other hand, was found to significantly predict general social anxiety, F(1, 147)=4.660, p=.032, R2=.031,and social anxiety in interaction with strangers, F(1, 147)=9.349, p=.003, R2=.060. The value of social support, particularly family support, is discussed as well as potential directions in terms of research and intervention.
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