Perceived social support and Anxiety: A correlational analysis

doi>10.24250/JPE/1/2020/TSD/ED/GSV

Authors

  • Tiberiu Sandu DUGHI Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad
  • Edgar DEMETER Faculty of Educational Sciences, Psychology and Social Sciences,“Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad,
  • Gabriela Sorina Vancu Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad

Keywords:

Perceived social support; anxiety; social anxiety; performance anxiety.

Abstract

Exposure to a varied environment (associated with a reduced capacity for predictability or tolerance to social dynamics) can lead to anxiety for some individuals. In these situations, we look for recourses to overcome the dysfunctions generated by anxiety in the sense of increasing the degree of adaptability to the social environment. Perceived social support can be one of these resources. In this light, the current investigation has the objective to identify the relationship between perceived social support (i.e. Attachment, Social Integration, Reassurance of Worth, Reliable Alliance, Guidance, and Opportunity for Nurturance) and anxiety (i.e. Social Anxiety and Performance Anxiety). The sample consisted of 71 individuals (between 19 and 52 years, with an average age of M = 35.04, SD: 9.95) from Romania. Anxiety was measured with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and perceived social support with the Social Provisions Scale. Results highlighted the significant negative association between perceived social support and anxiety. The results of this study can offer relevant information to stimulate the reconsideration of social support in the reduction or prevention of the development of anxiety and can support educators or counselors who work with young individuals.

References

Chiu C-Y., Motl W.R., Ditchman, N., (2016), Validation of the Social

Provisions Scale in People with Multiple Sclerosis in Rehabil Psychol. 2016 Aug;

(3): 297–307. doi: 10.1037/rep0000089

Cutrona, C. E. (1984). Social support and stress in the transition to

parenthood. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 93(4), 378–

https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.93.4.378

Deb, S., Chatterjee, P., Walsh, K.M. (2010). Anxiety among highschool

students in India: comparisons across gender, school type, social strata, and

perceptions of quality time with parents. Australian Journal of Educational

and Developmental Psycholog, 10(1): 18â€31.

Djidonou, A., Tchégnonsi, F.T., Adoukonou, T., Ataïgba, I.N.E., Assa-Issa,

C.N., Gandaho, P. (2016). Associated Factors and Impacts of Social Phobia on

Academic Performance among Students from the University of Parakou (UP). Open

Journal of Psychiatry, 06(02): 151-157.

Enăchescu, C., (2005), Tratat de psihopatologie, Ediția a II-a. Iași:

Polirom.Damsteegt, D. (1992). Loneliness, social provisions and attitude. College

Student Journal, 26(1), 135–139.

Erath, S.A., Flanagan, K.S., Bierman, K.L. (2007). Social Anxiety and Peer

Relations in Early Adolescence: Behavioral and Cognitive Factors. Journal of

Abnormal Child Psychology, 35(3): 405–416.

Fresco, D.M., Coles, M.E., Heimberg, R.G., Liebowitz, M.R., Hami, S., Stein,

M.B., Gotez, D. (2001). The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale: a comparison of the

psychometric properties of self-report and clinician-administered formats.

Psychological Medicine, 31(6): 1025-1035.

Gallagher, M., Prinstein, M.J., Simon, V. et al. (2014) Social Anxiety

Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation in a Clinical Sample of Early Adolescents:

Examining Loneliness and Social Support as Longitudinal Mediators. J Abnorm Child

Psychol 42, 871–883 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-013-9844-7

Hardy, C. J., Richman, J. M., & Rosenfeld, L. B. (1991). The Role of Social

Support in the Life Stress/Injury Relationship, The Sport Psychologist, 5(2), 128-139.

Retrieved Apr 3, 2020, from https:// journals. humankinetics.

com/view/journals/tsp/5/2/article-p128.xml

Heimberg, R.G., Horner, K.J., Juster, H.R., Safren, S.A., Brown, E.J.,

Schneier, F.R., Liebowitz, M.R. (1999). The Psychometric properties of the Liebowitz

Social Anxiety Scale. Psychol Med., 29(1):199-212. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/

S0033291798007879

Hraman, J., Hansen, C.E., Cochran, M., Lindsey, C.R. (2005). Liar, Liar:

Internet Faking but Not Frequency of Use Affects Social Skills, Self-Esteem, Social

Anxiety, and Aggression. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 8(1): 1-6.

Jay A. Mancini, Rosemary Blieszner, Social Provisions in Adulthood: Concept

and Measurement in Close Relationships, Journal of Gerontology, Volume 47, Issue 1,

January 1992, Pages P14–P20, https:// doi.org/10. 1093/ geronj/47.1.P14

Khadhijah, Z., Vijaykumar, S.D. (2018). Difference in Social Anxiety among

Students of Single-sex and Co-Education Schools. The International Journal of Indian

Psychology, 6(4): 118-126.

Lee, B.W., Stapinsky, L.A. (2012). Seeking safety on the internet: Relationship

between social anxiety and problematic internet use. Journal of Anxiety Disorders,

(1): 197-205.

Leary, M.R. (1990). Responses to Social Exclusion: Social Anxiety, Jealousy,

Loneliness, Depression, and Low Self-Esteem. Journal of Social and Clinical

Psychology, 9(2): 221-229.

Liebowitz, M. R. (1987). Social phobia. In Anxiety (Vol. 22, pp. 141-173).

Karger Publishers.

Mennin, D.S., Fresco, D.M., Heimberg, R.G., Schneier, F.R., Davies, S.O.,

Liebowitz, M.R. (2002). Screening for social anxiety disorder in the clinical setting:

using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 16(6): 661-

Moore, B.A. (2016). Cum să-ţi controlezi anxietatea. Ia tot ce e mai bun din

griji, stres şi temeri. București: Editura Trei.

Olivares, J., Sánchez-García, R., López-Pina, J.A. (2009). Liebowitz Social

Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents. Psicothema, 21(3): 486-491.

Perera, H. N. (2016). Construct Validity of the Social Provisions Scale: A

Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Approach. Assessment, 23(6),

–733. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191115589344

Potoczniak, D. J., Aldea, M. A., & DeBlaere, C. (2007). Ego identity, social

anxiety, social support, and self-concealment in lesbian, gay, and bisexual

individuals. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54(4), 447–

https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.54.4.447

Russell, D., & Cutrona, C.E. (1987). The Social provisions scale: A

multidimensional measure of perceived social support. Manuscript in preparation.

Safren, A.S., Heimberg, R.G., KellyJ.Horner, K.J., Juster, H.R., Franklin R.,

Schneier, F.R., Liebowitz, M.R. (1999). Factor Structure of Social Fears: The

Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 13(3): 253-270.

Soykan, C., Özgüven, H.D., Gençöz, D. (2003). Liebowitz Social Anxiety

Scale: The Turkish Version. Psychological reports, 93(3): 1059-1069.

Wonderlich-Tierney, A.L., Vander Wal, J.S., (2010), The effects of social

support and coping on the relationship between social anxiety and eating disorders.

Eating Behaviors.Volume 11, Issue 2, April 2010, Pages 85-91,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2009.10.002

Yarcheski,A., Mahon N.E., Yarcheski T.J., (2001), Social Support and Well-

Being in Early Adolescents: The Role of Mediating Variables, PubMed Volume: 10

issue: 2, page(s): 163-181. https://doi.org/10.1177/C10N2R6

Yarcheski, T. J., Mahon, N. E., & Yarcheski, A. (2003). Social Support, Self-

Esteem, and Positive Health Practices of Early Adolescents. Psychological Reports,

(1), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.2003.92.1.99

Downloads

Published

2020-04-27

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>