Physical social anxiety in adolescence in Physical Education Spanish students

Abstract

Physical and social anxiety (PSA) is an increasingly common syndrome among adolescents because of their vulnerability, leading to serious mental illness. It is closely related to the self-concept of body image. It varies according to gender, age, body mass index (BMI), physical shape, social context. Objective: The aim of this study is to find out how PSA affects Spanish physical education students, assessing possible differences according to gender. It also aims to discover whether there is a correlation between PSA and the age and BMI of the students. Methods: 306 students of Physical Education were questioned with a socio-demographic test and Physical-Social and Anxiety Scale (SPAS-7). Results: Significant associations were found between PSA and sex (p<0.01). Conclusions: PSA affects Spanish adolescent physical education students, with higher levels in girls than in boys. Public health policies are needed to reduce PSA at vulnerable ages and to implement gender policies to reduce the incidence, especially in females. Keywords: Education; physical and social anxiety; adolescents; body image.

Keywords

• Education; physical and social anxiety; adolescents; body image; education.