SOCIAL PHOBIA, COPING STRATEGIES, AND SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATIONS AMONG LATE ADOLESCENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Adolescence is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood, often marked by psychological challenges such as social anxiety, also known as social phobia. It is characterized by excessive fear of social interactions and can lead to impaired functioning or depression. Globally, its prevalence ranges from 6-10% in developed countries and 10-44% in developing countries. Coping strategies play a crucial role in managing social phobia, varying by individual characteristics. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of social phobia, identify coping strategies, and evaluate their association with socio-demographic factors among late adolescents. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 362 late adolescents (aged 16–19 years) from pre-university and first-degree colleges in Mysuru district, selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using pre-validated Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA) and the Brief-COPE inventory. Data were entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: Social phobia was present in 77.9% of participants. Among them, 41.4% had mild, 20.7% moderate, 11.6% marked, 3.1% severe, and 1.1% very severe social phobia. Active coping, positive reframing, and acceptance were the most used coping strategies, while substance use was the least used. Socioeconomic status (p=0.000) and gender (p=0.008) showed significant associations with the severity of social phobia, respectively. Conclusion: A high prevalence of social phobia was observed among late adolescents. Coping patterns and socio-demographic factors like family type and gender significantly influenced its presence and severity.