Exploring Multidimensional Factors of Social Anxiety: The Aspects of Individual, Family, School, and Online Experiences

Background and Purpose: Social anxiety, characterized by persistent fear of negative evaluation in social situations, has significant implications for social, emotional, and academic well-being. Previous research has identified parental and peer factors, such as parental anxiety and social acceptance, linked to social anxiety. However, the role of online experiences in relation to social anxiety remains relatively unexplored in the digital age. This study addresses this gap by examining how online experiences, alongside individual, family, and school factors, contribute to social anxiety among Taiwanese youth. These multidimensional factors of social anxiety include psychological distress, resilience, parental neglect, bullying victimization, and online experiences such as Internet addiction, online self-disclosure, fear of missing out (FOMO). By investigating these dimensions comprehensively, this research aims to shed light on crucial risk and protective factors of social anxiety in youth.

Methods. The data were obtained from the Longitudinal Study of Children’s and Adolescents’ Family and Social Experiences (LSCAFSE). A total of 2,141 youth (age 17) completed the Year 7 assessment. Social anxiety was measured by the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (La Greca & Lopez, 1998), while online self-disclosure was measured by the Revised Self-Disclosure Scales (Wheeless, 1976). Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine the effects of multidimensional risk and protective factors on social anxiety, after controlling for gender.

Results. Our findings indicated that psychological distress (β = .24, p < .001), neglect (β = .06, p= .01), FOMO (β = .19, p < .001) and internet addiction (β = .11, p < .001) were positively associated with higher levels of social anxiety. Conversely, resilience (β = -.24, p < .001) and online self-disclosure (β = -.13, p < .001) were associated with lower levels of social anxiety. Unexpectedly, bullying victimization was not significantly associated with social anxiety.

Conclusion and Implications. Our study explored various factors contributing to social anxiety among Taiwanese youth, including individual, familial, school-related, and online experiences. The results highlighted the influence of psychological distress, parental neglect, FOMO, and internet addiction on higher levels of social anxiety, emphasizing the role of digital interactions in youth mental health. Conversely, resilience and online self-disclosure emerged as protective factors, offering avenues for mitigating social anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both contextual and individual factors in social anxiety prevention and intervention programs. Specifically, efforts should focus on enhancing resilience and promoting positive online self-disclosure to mitigate social anxiety risks. Furthermore, interventions should target reducing constant fear of missing out and addressing internet addiction among youth. By considering these factors comprehensively, interventions can effectively reduce social anxiety and promote the well-being of Taiwanese youth.