A Study to assess the Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module on Reduction of Social Anxiety among Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is the most alarming stage during which a sense of awareness develops. The awareness of self and society can make the adolescents perplexed as too much is expected from them at a primordial phase of life. The parental and peer group pressure are the two contributing factors towards increase in stress and anxiety. Many adolescents are sensitive of how others see them and react to them, and this awareness makes them feel apprehensive and socially anxious. Social anxiety then is manifested by anxiety about and avoidance of social interactions, often linked to negative outcomes from social interactions with family, friends and teachers. It thereby leads to stage fear, poor academic performance and low self esteem accompanied by problems in cognition and behavior. Objectives: 1) To assess the level of social anxiety among adolescents 2) To develop a self instructional module to reduce social anxiety 3) To assess the effectiveness of self instructional module on reduction of social anxiety Design: The research design selected for the present study was exploratory survey for the stage 1 and experimental study on one group pre test post test design for stage 2. Setting: Higher secondary schools, Pune city. Participants: 210 adolescents including both boys and girls fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by stratified random sampling technique. Out of which 23 students with moderate level of social anxiety were administered a self instructional module. Methods: The study was conducted in two stages. In stage 1, all participants were assessed with the help of a questionnaire and the level of social anxiety was denoted. Then a self instructional module was developed. In the stage 2, the interventional group of adolescents having moderate level of social anxiety were provided self instructional module to reduce social anxiety. The participants were instructed to refer it as and when they anticipate socially stressful situation. After three months of intervention a post test was conducted. Results: Out of 210 samples, (28.57%) adolescents’ father’s education was higher secondary, (35.71%) adolescents’ mother’s education was higher secondary and (39.05%) had family monthly income as Rs > 13500. The findings revealed that 99 (47.14%) adolescents have mild social anxiety, 88 (41.90%) have no social anxiety, 23 (10.95%) have moderate social anxiety and none have severe social anxiety. In the study 122 (58.10%) adolescents have an average home environment, 86 (40.95%) have good home environment and 2 (0.95%) have poor home environment. Results also denoted that 178 (84.76%) adolescents have an average school environment, 27 (12.86%) have good school environment and 5 (2.38%) have a poor school environment. The interventional group of 23 (10.95%) adolescents having moderate level of social anxiety has shown a marked reduction in the anxiety levels after using the self instructional module. The effectiveness of self instructional module was assessed by using‘t’ test which was significant at (P < 0.001) Conclusion: The adolescents have mild to moderate levels of social anxiety which calls for measures of reduction. In almost any socially stressful situation the adolescents have availed the benefits of this module, which has proven effective and handy in reducing the social anxiety.