Association Between Social Phobia and Parenting Styles Among Secondary School Students

Abstract

Social phobia (SP) is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders among adolescent youth and remains under recognized and under treated. Environmental factors specifically parenting styles are particularly significant in the development of social phobia. Aim of the present study was to determine the association between social phobia and parenting styles among secondary school students. A descriptive design was selected in carrying out this study. The Setting of the present study was in the governmental schools in ElSinbellawin city, Dakhlia governerate. The sample size included a simple random sample composed of 446 students from three secondary schools; Ahmed Lofty El-Sayed secondary school for boys, El-Sadat secondary school for boys and The Secondary school for girls. Tools used for data collection were; sociodemographic data sheet, parenting styles and social phobia scales. Results revealed that female students recorded higher prevalence of social phobia (23.6%) than did in male students (14.4%). The significant difference was revealed between authoritarian, neglectful parenting styles and developing social phobia in the female students. There was a significant negative correlation between parenting styles and social phobia. This study concluded that social phobia is higher in females than in males. More the parents showed (authoritarian, authoritative, over-protective, neglectful) parenting style, their children showed lower levels of social phobia. The study recommended with early identification of socio phobic students by school nurse and social worker will be successfully help in providing early and adequate treatment, which in turn, reduce the burden of this common condition. Providing parents with educational programs about the efficacy of authoritative parenting style in nurturing their children.