<p>Social Anxiety Disorder Among Undergraduate Students of Hawassa University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ethiopia</p>

Abstract

Introduction: Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also called social phobia, is an uncontrollable fear of social situations, which involve fear of observation or making contact with strangers. So, helping individuals with social anxiety, which is among the factors affecting mental health, can significantly influence a students' mental health and prevent other problems. Objective: The study aimed at assessing the magnitude of SAD and its determinants among undergraduate students of Hawassa University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2018, in Hawassa University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences. We selected participants by a stratified random sampling method, and we collected data independently from each stratum (department) using a 17 item self-rating Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) scale to assess SAD. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to find factors associated with SAD. Results: Out of 304 students, 293 completed the questionnaire, with a response rate of 96.3%. The mean age of the participants was 22.13 years with a standard deviation of ± 2.176, and 172 (58.7%) were males. The prevalence of SAD was 32.8%. Family history of mental illness (AOR=4.72, 95% CI (1.25, 17.74)), being a 3rd-year student (AOR=0.178, 95% CI (0.055, 0.57)) and being a 4th year student (AOR=0.15, 95% CI (0.049, 0.49)) were significantly associated with SAD. Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of SAD among medicine and health science students of Hawassa University. Therefore, the Ethiopian Ministry of Higher Education and university officials need to draw up a plan to reduce social phobia.

Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Internet Addiction in Chinese College Students Controlling for the Effects of Physical Exercise, Demographic, and Academic Variables

“…Studies have shown that 10% of college students in the United Kingdom suffer from SA ( Russell and Shaw, 2009 ). Further, 30% of newcomers suffered from SA in Australia ( Wilson, 2005 ), while the percentage of SA among students in medical specialties in Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and India was 28.3, 29.8, and 30.5%, respectively ( Ahmad et al, 2017 ; Hakami et al, 2017 ; Jarallah et al, 2017 ; Dsouza et al, 2019 ; Reta et al, 2020 ). SA has a significant negative impact on interpersonal relationships, work, and academic performance, such as increasing the risk of dropping out of school, reducing work efficiency, and affecting the quality of life ( Aderka et al, 2012 ; Jacobson et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Similarly, Ren and Li (2020) found that PE has a significant impact on the SA of left-behind children in rural Chinese areas. Moreover, some previously mentioned researchers from the United Kingdom, Austria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, India, and Ethiopia conducted studies in their own countries ( Wilson, 2005 ; Russell and Shaw, 2009 ; Ahmad et al, 2017 ; Hakami et al, 2017 ; Jarallah et al, 2017 ; Dsouza et al, 2019 ; Reta et al, 2020 ). However, few studies have examined the relationship between PE, IA, and SA in a group of Chinese college students.…”

<p>Social Phobia and Its Impact on Quality of Life Among Regular Undergraduate Students of Mettu University, Mettu, Ethiopia</p>

“…13 In Ethiopia, research conducted on prevalence of social phobia among high school students in Woldia, Gondar and Hawassa was 27.5%, 31.2%, 32.8%. [14][15][16] Factors have shown to have an association include being the first or only child, 17 medical science faculties, 18,19 being female, younger age, religion, marital status (unmarried), the presence psychiatric illness, having a positive family history of mental disorder had a significant role for development of social phobia. 16,20 Evidence showed that social phobia was associated with substance use, 21 low socioeconomic status, unemployment, low level of education, and social support.…”

The Prevalence and Correlates of Social Anxiety Symptoms among People with Schizophrenia in Ethiopia: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…In Ethiopia, the prevalence of social anxiety disorder was found to be 63% among persons aged 12-17 years and it was significantly associated with female gender, low educational status, sexual victimization, and experience of peer victimization [7]. Another two different studies conducted on social anxiety disorder among university students in Ethiopia revealed a 31.2% [8] and 32.8% [9] prevalence. The comorbidity of SAD with schizophrenia is common, and it is the most frequent type of anxiety disorder in schizophrenia patients [10][11][12][13][14][15].…”