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Social Phobia in Undergraduate University Students in Oman: Prevalence and Correlates with Academic Achievement and Personal Characteristics

Received: 3 July 2024     Accepted: 22 July 2024     Published: 6 August 2024
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Abstract

Background: Social Anxiety disorder (SAD) is common worldwide. However, data from Oman is deficient. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of social phobia among undergraduate university students in Oman and investigate its relationship with the subjects’ academic performance and personal characteristics. Methodology: Using a cross-sectional study design, 377 students were selected as a sample from Univercity of the Technology and Applied Scinces at AL-Dhahira Governorate of Oman. A convenience sampling method was adopted to reach out to the participants. The data was collected between March, 2024, to May, 2024. Data from nurses was gathered by a primary survey approach utilizing a closed-ended questionnaire. The statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS (Statistical Tool for Social Sciences) version 20.0. Results: A total of 377 students self-completed the study survey. The results showed a high prevalence (91.2%) of social phobia among study subjects. Single linear-regression analysis indicated a significant association between social phobia and the academic GPA (p = 0.000). The influences of participants’ characteristics on the level of social phobia were also tested among study participants. Analysis utilizing Chi-square test showed that there was a significant association in the gender (p = 0.001), smoking ( p = 0.000) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.018) with the level of social phobia. Using Further analysis utilizing an independent ttest showed that there was a significant difference in the gender ( p = 0.000), medication use (p = 0.020) and history child abuse (p = 0.000) with the level of social phobia. Finally, one way Anova F-Test was applid and socioeconomic status was significant (p = 0.042) with social phobia level. Conclusion: The study came to the conclusion that SAD is prevalent among the sampled population and various associated factors have been found. The current findings may increase healthcare professionals' and academics' awareness of the need of early case detection and management. This study lays the foundation for succeedingstudies that will seek an understanding of the contributing factors related to the incidence of social phobia among Omani university students.

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11
Page(s) 88-95
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Social Phobia, Social Anxiety Disorder, University Students, Prevalence

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ghafri, M. A., Nassri, K. A. (2024). Social Phobia in Undergraduate University Students in Oman: Prevalence and Correlates with Academic Achievement and Personal Characteristics. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 13(4), 88-95. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11

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    ACS Style

    Ghafri, M. A.; Nassri, K. A. Social Phobia in Undergraduate University Students in Oman: Prevalence and Correlates with Academic Achievement and Personal Characteristics. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2024, 13(4), 88-95. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11

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    AMA Style

    Ghafri MA, Nassri KA. Social Phobia in Undergraduate University Students in Oman: Prevalence and Correlates with Academic Achievement and Personal Characteristics. Psychol Behav Sci. 2024;13(4):88-95. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11,
      author = {Maryam Al Ghafri and Khalid Al Nassri},
      title = {Social Phobia in Undergraduate University Students in Oman: Prevalence and Correlates with Academic Achievement and Personal Characteristics
    },
      journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
      volume = {13},
      number = {4},
      pages = {88-95},
      doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20241304.11},
      abstract = {Background: Social Anxiety disorder (SAD) is common worldwide. However, data from Oman is deficient. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of social phobia among undergraduate university students in Oman and investigate its relationship with the subjects’ academic performance and personal characteristics. Methodology: Using a cross-sectional study design, 377 students were selected as a sample from Univercity of the Technology and Applied Scinces at AL-Dhahira Governorate of Oman. A convenience sampling method was adopted to reach out to the participants. The data was collected between March, 2024, to May, 2024. Data from nurses was gathered by a primary survey approach utilizing a closed-ended questionnaire. The statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS (Statistical Tool for Social Sciences) version 20.0. Results: A total of 377 students self-completed the study survey. The results showed a high prevalence (91.2%) of social phobia among study subjects. Single linear-regression analysis indicated a significant association between social phobia and the academic GPA (p = 0.000). The influences of participants’ characteristics on the level of social phobia were also tested among study participants. Analysis utilizing Chi-square test showed that there was a significant association in the gender (p = 0.001), smoking ( p = 0.000) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.018) with the level of social phobia. Using Further analysis utilizing an independent ttest showed that there was a significant difference in the gender ( p = 0.000), medication use (p = 0.020) and history child abuse (p = 0.000) with the level of social phobia. Finally, one way Anova F-Test was applid and socioeconomic status was significant (p = 0.042) with social phobia level. Conclusion: The study came to the conclusion that SAD is prevalent among the sampled population and various associated factors have been found. The current findings may increase healthcare professionals' and academics' awareness of the need of early case detection and management. This study lays the foundation for succeedingstudies that will seek an understanding of the contributing factors related to the incidence of social phobia among Omani university students.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Social Phobia in Undergraduate University Students in Oman: Prevalence and Correlates with Academic Achievement and Personal Characteristics
    
    AU  - Maryam Al Ghafri
    AU  - Khalid Al Nassri
    Y1  - 2024/08/06
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11
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    JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
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    EP  - 95
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241304.11
    AB  - Background: Social Anxiety disorder (SAD) is common worldwide. However, data from Oman is deficient. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of social phobia among undergraduate university students in Oman and investigate its relationship with the subjects’ academic performance and personal characteristics. Methodology: Using a cross-sectional study design, 377 students were selected as a sample from Univercity of the Technology and Applied Scinces at AL-Dhahira Governorate of Oman. A convenience sampling method was adopted to reach out to the participants. The data was collected between March, 2024, to May, 2024. Data from nurses was gathered by a primary survey approach utilizing a closed-ended questionnaire. The statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS (Statistical Tool for Social Sciences) version 20.0. Results: A total of 377 students self-completed the study survey. The results showed a high prevalence (91.2%) of social phobia among study subjects. Single linear-regression analysis indicated a significant association between social phobia and the academic GPA (p = 0.000). The influences of participants’ characteristics on the level of social phobia were also tested among study participants. Analysis utilizing Chi-square test showed that there was a significant association in the gender (p = 0.001), smoking ( p = 0.000) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.018) with the level of social phobia. Using Further analysis utilizing an independent ttest showed that there was a significant difference in the gender ( p = 0.000), medication use (p = 0.020) and history child abuse (p = 0.000) with the level of social phobia. Finally, one way Anova F-Test was applid and socioeconomic status was significant (p = 0.042) with social phobia level. Conclusion: The study came to the conclusion that SAD is prevalent among the sampled population and various associated factors have been found. The current findings may increase healthcare professionals' and academics' awareness of the need of early case detection and management. This study lays the foundation for succeedingstudies that will seek an understanding of the contributing factors related to the incidence of social phobia among Omani university students.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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