Prevalence and Risk Factors of Social Phobia Among Secondary School Male Students in Khamis Mushayt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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- Category: Vol. 80, December 2012
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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Social Phobia Among Secondary School Male Students in Khamis Mushayt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,ALI M. AL-QAHTANI
Abstract
Aim of Study: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of social phobia (SP) among secondary school male students in Khamis Mushayt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted in secondary schools for males in Khamis Mushayt. A total of 566 male secondary school students were included in the present study. Study tools included the translated forms of the SP Inventory and the SP Risk Factors Questionnaire.
Results: Prevalence of SP is high among male secondary school students (14.1 %). More than half of students expressed the presence of negative temperament symptoms, i.e., being shy (52.5%) or anxious (51.1%) when facing new situations or people. Almost one third of students felt restrained (32.7%) or fear (31.6%), while almost one fourth felt withdrawn (24.4%). Being a middle-born child was associated with least prevalence of SP (39%) and being the first born child (or the only child) was associated with higher prevalence of SP (46.4%, p=0.036). All studied risk factors (i.e., exposure to teasing, battering, frightening, rejection, mockering or humil-iation) are associated with significantly higher prevalence of SP. Having problems with the mother or siblings and the presence of problems within the family is associated with significantly higher prevalence of SP (p<0.001 for all). All negative symptoms (i.e., shy, withdrawn, restrained, fear and anxiety) felt by students are significantly associated with higher prevalence of SP (p<0.001 for all symptoms).
Conclusions: SP is highly prevalent among male secondary school students in Khamis Mushayt. Birth order is a risk factor for developing SP among male adolescents, being least among middle born children. Frequent exposure to teasing, battering, frightening, rejection, mockering or humiliation is associated with significantly higher prevalence of SP. Having problems with the mother or siblings and the presence of problems within the family are associated with significantly higher prevalence of SP. Negative symptoms felt by students are significantly associated with higher prevalence of SP. Age, scholastic year and family size of secondary school students are not significant variables as regard prevalence of SP.
Recommendations: Growing children should be protected against exposure to negative experiences. Teachers should be advised to avoid following this behavior and to prevent it within the school. The integrity of relations within the family should be enforced. Parents should be educated about the importance of keeping sound and healthy family relations, with their children and also among their children. Teachers should observe their students at school to pick up those with obvious negative symptoms in order to be referred to the school physician or a psychiatrist for screening and diagnosis of SP. The present study should be replicated on female secondary school students, and on students in other areas of KSA to identify the whole magnitude of SP among Saudi secondary school students.