Prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder and its SocioDemographic Correlates in Undergraduate Medical Students
- 1. Department of Community Medicine, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Pakistan
- 2. Department of Internal Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Pakistan
- 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Pakistan
- 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Pakistan
Abstract
Background: Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is characterized as an extreme anxiety, emotional discomfort or fear about social or performance situations.
These people have an intense fear of being judged or negatively evaluated by others. People with social anxiety disorder may avoid important activities such
as attending classes and meetings or may attend but avoid active participation. They achieve less in school and work, and are less likely to have a relationship
than people who do not have the disorder.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate Social Anxiety Disorder among undergraduate medical students.
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Study Setting and duration: March – May 2018
Inclusion criteria: All medical students of either gender from first to final year MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) attending Allama
Iqbal Medical College, Pakistan.
Data Collection and analysis: 150 medical students, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in our study. Every student was given a structured
questionnaire consisting of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and last academic performance. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version: 21.0. Mean
and standard deviation were calculated for numerical variables like age, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) scoring. Variables used for SAD were fear
and avoidance. Frequency and percentages were calculated for nominal variables like age, gender, residential status, medical school year and SAD. Cross
tabulation was done for SAD with gender and residential status.
Results: A total of 150 students were included, 67 (44.67%) were male and 83 (55.33%) were females. The age of the respondents ranged from
18 years to 26 years with the mean age of 21.2y. The percentage of females with mild, moderate and severe social phobia is 61.6%, 50.7% and 60%
respectively as compared to males with 38.4%, 49.3% and 40%, respectively. The percentage of female’s respondents with mild, moderate and severe
degree of avoidance is 65.1%, 49% and 80% respectively as compared to males with 34.9%, 51% and 20 %, respectively.
Conclusion: The conclusion of our study was that females have greater tendency for fear and avoidance as compared to males, and students from urban
background have greater tendency for fear and avoidance resulting in social anxiety disorder.