Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment (Aug 2022)

The Experience Among College Students with Social Anxiety Disorder in Social Situations: A Qualitative Study

  • Luan YS,
  • Zhan-ling G,
  • Mi L,
  • Ying L,
  • Lan B,
  • Tong L

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 18
pp. 1729 – 1737

Abstract

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Ya-Song Luan,1 Gao Zhan-ling,1 Li Mi,1 Liu Ying,2 Bai Lan,1 Li Tong1 1Department of Nursing Science, Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine College, YanTai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurosurgery, YanTai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, YanTai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ya-Song Luan, Department of Nursing Science, Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine College, YanTai, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Few individuals have focused on the experience of students during social events, especially among college students with social anxiety disorder. This study aimed to explore the anxiety experience among college students with social anxiety disorder in social situations.Methods: This qualitative interpretive study was conducted on college students who were diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and recruited from two colleges in Heilongjiang Province, China. A total of 7 participants were selected by purposive sampling with maximum variability. Data were collected through semistructured individual interviews, and data analysis was performed by using Colaizzi’s 7-step analysis method.Results: The findings from the analysis of the interviews were classified into 4 themes and several main categories, including distorted self-awareness (3 main categories), fear of negative reaction from others (2 main categories), adverse reaction of body and mind (4 main categories) and strong desire to seek treatment.Conclusion: In our study, we sought to understand the anxiety experience among college students with social anxiety disorder in social situations. The study results provide a reference for psychologists and clinical medical staff and establish a scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of social anxiety disorder.Keywords: social anxiety disorder, qualitative study, anxiety experience

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