A Comparative Study to Assess the Level of Social Phobia among Adolescents in Selected Urban and Rural Higher Secondary Schools at Bengaluru, with a View to Develop an Information Guide Sheet

Social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder and the third most common psychiatric disorder, after major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence. Lifetime prevalence estimates for social phobia vary greatly and range from 0.4 to 20.4% in different studies. Among the more well know epidemiological studies, the Epidemiological Catchment Area Survey in 1991 suggests a lifetime prevalence of social phobia at 2.73%. Also, estimates of more than 8,000 individuals from the National Co morbidity Survey in 1994, suggests the lifetime prevalence of social phobia at 13.3%. To provide comprehensive care, nurse has to assess the level of social phobia among adolescents. Hence this study has been conducted to assess the level of social phobia among adolescents of selected rural and urban higher secondary schools with a view to develop an information guide sheet.

To assess the level of social phobia among adolescents in selected urban and rural higher secondary schools. To compare the level of social phobia between adolescents of urban and rural higher secondary schools. To find the association between level of social phobia among adolescents of urban and rural higher secondary schools with selected socio demographic variables.

The study involved non experimental approach, and comparative descriptive research design with simple random sampling technique. To collect the data from respondents, modified social phobia inventory was used and administered to 120 adolescents (60 rural and 60 urban adolescents) following inclusion and exclusion criteria. The tool consisted 30 items regarding assessment of social phobia. The results were described by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The mean score of rural participants 51.50 with mean percentage 42.9% and standard deviation 10.1 was high when compared to mean knowledge score of urban participants 35.45 with mean percentage 29.5% and standard deviation 11.0. Hence the ‘t'value 4.58* was significant at 5% level. Hence rural adolescents are having more social phobia than urban adolescents.

With regard to rural participants there is significant association between the Level of Social Phobia and selected demographic variables like age (years) (c2 =6.67), gender (c2 = 6.27), religion (?2 =8.10) and type of family (?2 = 6.75) at 5% level. There is no significant association between demographic variables such as class studying (?2= 2.88), special talent(?2= 1.91), education of father (?2 =4.38), education of mother ((?2 = 6.22), family income/month (?2 = 2.13) and source of information(?2 = 3.39)With regard to urban participants there is significant association between the Level of Social Phobia and selected demographic variables like age (years) (c2 =4.34), gender (c2 = 5.34), religion (?2 =4.17) and type of family (?2 = 6.01) at 5% level. There is no significant association between demographic variables such as class studying (?2= 0.61), special talent (?2= 1.44), education of father (?2 =3.17), education of mother ((?2 = 5.54), family income/month (?2 = 1.57) and source of information(?2 = 5.55)

The overall findings of the study clearly showed that most of the rural adolescents are having mild (80%) to moderate (20%) social phobia and only few of urban adolescents are having mild (56.7%) and most of them (43.3%) have no social phobia. Rural adolescents are having more social phobia than urban adolescents. Hence Health education programme should incorporated in urban and rural areas to reduce the level of social phobia and its complications in adolescents.