Social Anxiety and Quality of Life: Mediating Role of Stigma Perception in Individuals Who Stutter

Abstract

Children, adolescents, and adults who stutter widely experience anxiety and avoid social situations; hence stuttering negatively affects their quality of life (Yaruss & Quesal, 2004). The study aims to investigate the relation between social anxiety, stigma perception, and quality of life among individuals who stutter and to examine if stigma perception mediates between social anxiety and quality of life. Participants of aged 11- 25 years (Mage =18.83, SD = 4.74, N = 117) were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling technique. Participants were screened based on dysfluency using DSM-5 (2013) stuttering criteria. Results revealed significant association between social anxiety, stigma perception, and quality of life. Mediation analysis also showed that stigma perception partially mediated the relation between social anxiety and quality of life in individuals who stutter. Furthermore, significant age differences were found in social anxiety and quality of life in individuals who stutter. The study concluded that stigma perception partially mediates the relationship between social anxiety and quality of life; therefore, social anxiety and perceived stigma need to be reduced to enhance stuttering individuals’ quality of life. Results highlight the importance of multidisciplinary approach in the management of stuttering.