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Global Journal of Psychology and Behavioural Education
Vol. 3 (2), pp. 088-091, March, 2015.
© Global Science Research Journals
http://www.globalscienceresearchjournals.org/
Full Length Research Paper
Social phobia among Isra University students in light of
some variables
Feras Ali Alhabees and Malek Yosef Alkhutaba
Isra University, Jordan
Accepted 18 March, 2015
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the social phobia among Isra University students in the light of some
variables. A total sample of 136 participants 54 males and 82 females, first year 17 students, 100
second year students and 19 third year students was randomly selected from three different level of
the study aged between 18 to 21 years. All the respondents were from the middle class family come
from different cities, the results indicated that there is statically difference in social phobia among
students based on their level of study while there was no statically difference in social phobia among
university students on the bases of gender variable at (α ≤ 0.05).
Keywords: Social phobia, Isra University students, variables
INTRODUCTION
Social phobia even though being a common psychiatric
disorder is still under recognized and under treated.
Social phobia is the most general anxiety disorder and
the third most common psychiatric disorder, after major
depressive disorder and alcohol. Lifetime prevalence
estimates for social phobia vary greatly (Sareen & Stein,
2000). It is more common in youth. It is related with lower
educational achievements, unstable employment, higher
frequency of being absent to work, individuals are less
likely to marry, more likely to get divorced, and have
reduced productivity that can lead to dependence from
family, state, society, and country. Disability in diverse
functional areas and impaired quality of life are the two
important domains of consequences of social phobia
(Furmark, Tillfors & Everz, 1999).
Social phobia is reported to be among the most
common anxiety disorders with lifetime occurrence rates
ranging from 2 to 16% in the Sufferers become anxious
when they perceive themselves as the center of attention,
finding it difficult to speak in public, attending social
events and dealing with authority figures (Wittchen, Stein
&Kessler, 1999). General population and characterized
by fear of one or more situations in which a person may
be exposed to possible scrutiny by others and fear that
he or she will act in an embarrassing or humiliating and
fear of negative evaluation and culture, beliefs, values
and traditions may play a role in their expression.
Psychological researchers believe that a combination of
genetic and environmental influences results in the
emergence and maintenance of social phobia, if left
untreated, individuals with social phobia hardly recover.
Increasing attention is being paid to anxiety disorders
worldwide because of their common occurrence in
primary care settings and in the general population
and the degree of disability found in sufferers (Goldberg
& Huxley, 1992). The impairment from anxiety disorders
is comparable with long term physical illnesses like
arthritis, hypertension and diabetes, but then, unlike
these illnesses, anxiety disorders have an earlier age of
onset and hence a longer duration of ill-health
(Greenberg, Birnbaum & Sisitsky, 2004).
Redhwan Al-naggar (2012) determined the prevalence
of the most common phobias and associated factors
among university students. The questionnaires were
distributed randomly for 468 students which took as a
random sample at classes. Diagnosis of anxiety disorders
were established according to DSM-IV criteria. These
criteria are included in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale
(LSAS). The results showed that the older than 20 years
old, female, Malay and from non-medical and heath
Glob. J. Psychol. Behav. Educ. 089
faculties (59.6%, 69.6%, 77.8%, 68.8%; respectively).
Regarding history of abuse during childhood, the majority
of the university students reported that there was no
sexual, physical and emotional abuse during childhood
(98.5%, 97.4%, and 82.1%; respectively). The majority of
the students (53.85%) reported that they have phobia.
The highest type of phobia reported among university
students was phobia from snake (11.5%), followed by
speaking in front of crowd (9.2%) and the lowest were
phobia of speed, dolls phobia, ropes phobia. Types of
faculty, smoking status and history of physical abuse
during childhood were the factors that significantly
influence the social anxiety among university students in
university and multivariate analysis.
Fawwaz Momani and Abdul-Kareem M.Jaradat (2011)
explored the socio-demographic differences in the
prevalence of social phobia among university students.
The total sample was 729 students. The results indicated
that the overall prevalence rate of social phobia among
students was 17.7%. while, there is statically deference in
prevalence rate of social phobia among females whose
parents’ education is high school and below was higher
than that of students whose parents’ education is college
and above; among students coming from big families was
higher than that of students coming from medium or small
families; among students coming from families with low
income was higher than that of students coming from
families with medium or high income; and among
students graduated from public schools was higher than
that of students graduated from private schools.
Significant differences were found in the prevalence rates
of social phobia by academic level, birth order or place of
residence.
Parag S. Shah and Lakhan Kataria (2010) aimed to
prevalence, severity, disability and quality of life with
respect to social phobia among university students in
India. A total sample was 380 of undergraduate university
students was assessed to identify the extent of social
phobia, its correlates as well as resulting disability and
quality of life.The results indicate that the social phobia
was found in 19.5% of participants, in varied degrees of
severity and correlated with various faculties in university,
resulting in significant disability in work, social life, and
family life, as well as impairment in quality of life.
Expressible, performing or giving a talk in front of an
audience’ was the most commonly feared/avoided
situation.
Students
reported
various
clinical
manifestations
affecting
academic,
social
and
interpersonal areas.
Ferda lzgc, Gamze Akyiz, Orhan Doan and Nesim Ku
(2004) explained the prevalence of social phobia and its
relation to body image and self-esteem. Thesample was
1003 students from Cumhuriyet University randomly
selected. Tools were administrated the diagnostic
interview. Results of the study indicated that the lifetime
prevalence of social phobia among university students
was 9.6% and past year prevalence was 7.9%. Selfesteem was lower (P < 0. 05) am ong t hose wit h
soci al phobi a t han am ong t hose wi t hout soci al
phobi a.
Objective
To study the social phobia among Isra University students in the
light of gender and level of the study variables.
Hypothesis
There are statically difference in social phobia among
Isra university students on the base of gender and level
of the study variables.
Participants
A total sample of 136 participants was randomly selected
from three different level of the study comprised 54 males
and 82 females, first year 17 students, 100 second year
students and 19 third year students aged between 18 to
21 years. The selection of students was conducted at the
campus and the respondents were from the middle class
family comes from different cities.
Measure
The social phobia satisfaction of the respondents was
measured with the help of social phobia scale of negative
evaluation developed by Watson, D., Friend, R, 1969.
The scale consisted of 30 items, where the reliability
coefficient was calculated deviation re-test where the test
was applied to 40 students 20 males 20 females from
outside of sample, same questionnaire has been
distributed after 14 days to same students. The value of
internal consistency alpha Cronbach is 0.84.
Procedure
After seeking permission from intended university,
students were invited to participate in the study and after
brief introduction, goals and purpose of the study were
explain to them. The questionnaires were administered
individually and total time taken by each participant varies
between 15 minutes 20 minutes. After that the data was
tabulated and entered to SPSS program for analysis.
RESULTS
The above Table 1 indicates that the statement: I rarely
worry about seeming foolish to others has got highest
means 2.99 and ranked first by 74.81%, while the
statement: I worry about what people will think of me
even when I know it doesn’t make any difference, and the
Alhabees and Alkhutaba
090
Table 1: shows means, standard deviation and percentage of social phobia of students
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
No.
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Items
I rarely worry about seeming foolish to others.
I worry about what people will think of me even when I know it
doesn’t make any difference.
I become tense and jittery if I know that someone is sizing me
up.
I am unconcerned even if I know that people are forming an
unfavorable impression of me.
I feel very upset when I commit some social error.
The opinions that people have of me cause me little concern.
I am often afraid that I may look ridiculous or make a fool of
myself.
I react very little when other people disapprove of me.
I am frequently afraid of other people noticing my shortcomings.
The disapproval of others would have little effect on me.
If someone is evaluating me I expect the worst.
I rarely worry about what kind of impression I am making on
someone.
I am afraid that others will not approve of me.
I am afraid that others will find fault with me.
Other people’s opinions of me do not bother me.
I am not necessarily upset if I do not please someone.
When I am talking to someone, I worry about what they may be
thinking of me.
I feel that you can’t help making social errors sometimes, so why
worry about it.
I am usually worried about what kind of impression I make.
I worry a lot about what my superiors think of me.
Items
If I know someone is judging me, it has little effect on me.
I worry that others will think I am not worthwhile.
I worry very little about what others may think of me.
Sometimes I am too concerned with what other people may think
of me.
I often worry that I will say or do the wrong things.
I am often indifferent to the opinions others have of me.
I am usually confident that others will have a favorable
impression of me.
I often worry that people who are important to me won’t think
very much of me.
I brood about the opinions my friends have about me.
Total
statement: I become tense and jittery if I know that
someone is sizing me up, have ranked second by 2.97
and 74.26%. Moreover, the statement: I often worry that
people who are important to me won’t think very much of
me, has ranked before the last by 2.06, and 51.48%.
Finally, the statement: I brood about the opinions my
friends have about me" ranked last by 2.05 and 51.20 %.
The total means and percentage are 2.39 and
percentage 51.20% respectively.
Table 2 presents there is nostatistically different at (α
≤0.05) in social phobia among Isra university students on
the base of gender variable.
Table 3 shows there are statistically different at (α ≤0.05)
in social phobia among Isra university students on the
base of level of the study variable.
Means
2.99
SD
1.02
100%
74.81%
2.97
0.89
74.26%
2.97
1.01
74.26%
2.76
099
68.98%
2.75
2.70
1.10
1.05
68.70%
67.59%
2.69
1.01
67.31%
2.68
2.64
2.43
2.42
1.03
1.13
1.10
1.07
67.04%
65.93%
60.83%
60.46%
2.19
1.12
54.81%
2.07
1.97
2.42
2.36
1.06
1.00
1.08
1.10
51.76%
49.17%
60.56%
59.07%
2.32
1.12
58.06%
2.27
1.11
56.67%
2.23
2.23
Means
2.21
2.19
2.16
1.12
1.07
SD
1.08
1.13
1.12
55.83%
55.83%
100%
55.19%
54.63%
54.07%
2.14
1.11
53.52%
2.13
2.10
1.12
1.08
53.24%
52.59%
2.10
1.12
52.50%
2.06
1.08
51.48%
2.05
2.39
1.12
0.72
51.20%
59.84%
DISCUSSION
The purpose of the study was to explore the social
phobia among Isra University students, beside that to see
the effect of gender and level of the study. Finding of this
study showed that there was no statically a difference in
social phobia among students on the base of gender,
while there was statically significant in social phobia
among students based on level of the study variables. As
a matter of fact social phobia a real phenomenon, no one
knows for sure why some people have it while others
don't. However, psychologists believe it’s a combination of
environmental factors and
genetics. Negative experiences
Glob. J. Psychol. Behav. Educ. 091
Table 2: t-test results present the differences in social
phobia among students based on gender variable.
Gender
Male
Female
Total
Mean
2.28
2.40
2.39
S.D
0.78
0.94
0.82
∝
t
2.78
0.30
Significant at (α ≤ 0.05)
Table 3: ONE WAY ANOVA results indicate the differences in social phobia among students based on level of the study
variable.
Sources of variance
between group
within group
Total
Sum of squares
1.31
137.64
138.96
df
2
267
2
Mean squares
0.66
0.52
F
α
1.27
0.02*
Significant at (α ≤ 0.05)
also may contribute to this disorder, such as bullying,
family conflict and sexual abuse, physical abnormalities
such as a serotonin imbalance may contribute. Serotonin
is a chemical in the brain that helps regulate mood. An
overactive amygdala a structure in the brain that controls
fear response and feelings or thoughts of anxiety may
also cause these disorders. Where university students
suffer to some levels of anxiety, such as; have new
experiences, environment and situation and campus
environment, can lead to illness and negative experience,
many reasons related to the cultural conditions can affect
negatively upon the students. However, the findings of
the study are in agreement previous studies are
consistent with study of Redhwan Al-naggar (2012) and
Fawwaz Momani and Abdul-Kareem M. Jaradat (2011).
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