Evaluating The Structural Model for Causative and Maintaining Factors of Social Anxiety Disorder in Students of Medical Sciences

Identifying the nature of social anxiety through its causative factors can provide valuable information for the health system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a structural model for creating and maintaining factors causing social anxiety disorder in students in a medical sciences university.

A descriptive-correlational study was performed in all students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Online questionnaires were completed (n= 670), including social phobia inventory (SPIN), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-3), Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems (BAS/BIS), Older Adult Social-Evaluative Situations Questionnaire (OASES), Social Phobia Safety Behaviors Scale (SPSBS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Mini-Social Thoughts and Beliefs Scale (Mini-STABS), and Self-Beliefs Related to Social Anxiety Scale (SBSA). Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling and Bootstrap method using AMOS software.

Fit indices showed that hypothetical research model has a good fit with the data. In the present model, positive significant relationships were found between social anxiety and the paths associated with behavioral inhibition, trust-abuse, defectiveness/shame, social isolation, unrelenting standards via mediators of social-evaluative situations, safety behaviors, emotion regulation, social thoughts and beliefs, and self-beliefs to social anxiety (P<0.0001). But, we observed no significant relationship between social anxiety and emotion regulation mediator path (P<0.0001).

Considering the role of etiology and maintenance factors in current model, it can be used in designing treatments for social anxiety and promoting the health of medical students.