STUDENTŲ PATIRIAMO SOCIALINIO NERIMO IR TAIKOMŲ ĮVEIKOS STRATEGIJŲ POKYČIAI PER VIENERIUS METUS

Abstract

High social anxiety can significantly affect persons’ daily activities, social life, educational and occupational achievements. The most recent epidemiological studies show that social anxiety is one of the most frequent disorders, which commence in adolescence. The aim of this study is to reveal links between students’ social anxiety and coping strategies change during the period of one year. 175 participants took part in the first stage of the study. Average age of the participants was 19.14 years. The second stage of the study was conducted after one year with a participation of 100 (57.4 percent) students average age of 20.28 years. Three self-report questionnaires were used in our study: Brief fear of negative appraisal scale (SNVBK); Social phobia inventory (SPIN); and Social anxiety coping scale (SNIK). The results of this study showed that social anxiety of students was permanent and long-term. Social anxiety and its coping strategies remained stable during the second testing after one year period Social anxiety during second measurement had the strongest relation with social anxiety during the first measurement, but was also significantly related with cognitive factors and coping strategies. KEY WORDS: social anxiety, coping, changes of social anxiety, longitudinal study.