Abstract

Interest in social anxiety disorder has grown substantially over the past few decades. Most of the available data from United States and European countries emphasized its high prevalence, comorbidity and morbidity and its association with occupational, educational, social affairs, stress, depression and substance use disorder contributing to poor quality of life. Present study was aimed to assess the social anxiety symptoms and to explore its impact on quality of life of secondary school students. Present study included male (n = 200) and female (n = 200) students enrolled at government secondary schools, Abha, Saudi Arabia. Arabic version of Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL) were implemented to assess the social anxiety symptoms and quality of life of the students. Results revealed that 45% of the students showed social anxiety symptoms. Associated factors were younger age, chronic diseases, parent’s status, parent’s occupation and income. Quality of life was found significantly lower in students with social anxiety symptoms as compared to the students without symptoms. We suggest that the school health program should include routine screening of students for social anxiety disorder. Students diagnosed with social anxiety symptoms should be promptly managed and their quality of life should be improved.

摘要

在过去的几十年里，人们对社交焦虑症的兴趣大幅增长。美国和欧洲国家的大部分可用数据都强调其高患病率、合并症和发病率，以及它与导致生活质量低下的职业、教育、社会事务、压力、抑郁和物质使用障碍的关联。本研究旨在评估社交焦虑症状并探讨其对中学生生活质量的影响。本研究包括就读于沙特阿拉伯艾卜哈政府中学的男性 (n = 200) 和女性 (n = 200) 学生。采用阿拉伯语版社交恐惧量表（SPIN）和世界卫生组织生活质量问卷（WHOQOL）来评估学生的社交焦虑症状和生活质量。结果显示，45%的学生表现出社交焦虑症状。相关因素包括年龄、慢性病、父母的身份、父母的职业和收入。与没有症状的学生相比，有社交焦虑症状的学生的生活质量显着降低。我们建议学校健康计划应包括对学生社交焦虑症的常规筛查。被诊断出有社交焦虑症状的学生应得到及时管理，并提高他们的生活质量。我们建议学校健康计划应包括对学生社交焦虑症的常规筛查。被诊断出有社交焦虑症状的学生应得到及时管理，并提高他们的生活质量。我们建议学校健康计划应包括对学生社交焦虑症的常规筛查。被诊断出有社交焦虑症状的学生应得到及时管理，并提高他们的生活质量。