Prevalence of Social Phobia and its Determinants among Undergraduate Medical Students of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Social Phobia (SP) is described as a persistent fear of one or more social performances. The sustained SP among medical students without prior identification raises susceptibility to substance abuse and poor quality of future life. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of SP and determine the risk factors contributing to the development of SP among medical students in a tertiary teaching institute in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 undergraduate medical students, in a tertiary teaching institute in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India, from September 2021 to November 2021. Medical students, who were willing to participate, were included in the study. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and personal characteristics and family variables. SP was measured by using Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) scale. Binary logistic regression was used to expose the definitive predictor factors. The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) version 26.0 software. Results: A total of 538 students were included. The majority of students 339 (63%) were female and 199 (37%) were male. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 21.27 (±1.73) years. The prevalence of SP among medical students was 41.1%. The predictor for SP was found to be rural residence Adjusted Odds Ratio(AOR):1.748 (95% CI: 1.184-2.582), female sex AOR:2.002 (95% CI:1.358-2.952), mothers’ illiteracy AOR:3.640 (95%CI:1.430-9.266), students experiencing humiliation (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.5-3.6), students with family conflicts (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3-4.4), lack of relationship with parents (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.2-4.2). The mean score of the SPIN questionnaire was 19.05±13.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of SP was high among medical students in Tamil Nadu. So, early detection and appropriate intervention need to be done by their institution among the students to enhance social interaction and improve academic performance.