Exploring the Interplay of Social Anxiety Symptoms and Family Perception among Chinese Adolescents: A Psychosocial Investigation

Abstract

Anxiety among children and adolescents has received significant attention. Nonetheless, the inquiry into social anxiety and its relationship with family dynamics, particularly within the Chinese culture, remains less explored. This study undertakes the task of bridging this scholarly void through the employment of a comprehensive questionnaire survey. Data from 308 participants aged 13 to 17 were collected through a questionnaire facilitated by the Sojump platform. The survey employed the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) and the Adolescent Student Family Satisfaction Scale (ASFSS). Results reveal high internal reliability (=0.963) for IAS and ideal reliability (=0.973) for ASFSS. A strong negative correlation (r = -0.548) emerged between family satisfaction and social anxiety symptoms. This study addresses the underexplored relationship between these factors, contributing to the understanding of adolescent mental health dynamics within the familial context. Future research is recommended to incorporate longitudinal designs to enhance the breadth and depth of findings. Additionally, investigating mediating factors and developing family-centered interventions could yield valuable insights for shaping mental health interventions for adolescents.