EFFECTIVENESS OF JACOBSON'S PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION (JPMR) TECHNIQUE ON SOCIAL ANXIETY AMONG HIGH SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN A SELECTED SCHOOL OF UDUPI DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE

Abstract

Problem: Epidemiologic studies show that social anxiety is among the most prevalent of all mental disorders and very less attention has been given to this area.Methods: The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify the adolescents with social anxiety and teach the JPMR technique to those who would score high on social anxiety scale. The data were collected from 193 high school adolescents using Demographic Proforma, Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescent and Tool to Assess the Associated Factors of Social Anxiety. The JPMR technique was administered to the adolescents with moderate to severe social anxiety.Findings: The study found that 52(27%) adolescents were having moderate social anxiety and there was significant association 2 (x2=15.297, p<0.05) between age of the adolescents and social anxiety. The significant related factors of social anxiety were parental strictness, parental conflict, teacher's strictness, peer rejection, troubled with appearance and being treated differently from siblings by parents. The Jacobson's Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique was found to be effective (t =10.646, df= 39, p=0.001) in reducing the social anxiety.Conclusion: Social anxiety is common among adolescents and many modifiable factors related to parents and teachers are associated with it. Appropriate interventions in an early time may help them to reduce it.