Assessment of Social Anxiety and Its Correlates among Undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of social anxiety and its correlates among undergraduates, and the psychosocial factors that predict it. Nine hundred and twenty six undergraduates from six universities in south-western Nigeria, whose consent had been obtained responded to the assessment battery which consisted of Appraisal of Social Concern(Telch, Lucas, Smith, powers, heimberg and Hart 2004); Dating and Assertion Questionnaire (Levenson and Gottman, 1978); Fear of Negative Evaluation (Watson and Friend, 1969); and Social Maladjustment Scale (Wiggins, 1960). Statistical analysis, using Regression Analysis and Four-Way ANOVA, revealed that while some factors predicted social anxiety (such as dating anxiety and fear of negative evaluation); Self esteem, Social maladjustment and assertiveness did not. Also demographic variables did not have any significant effect on social anxiety. A cut-off point of 40.71 was also derived as norm for high social anxiety.