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Investigating the Relationship Between Loneliness, Evaluation Anxiety and Gender on The Prediction of Social Anxiety in an Irish Context

Cullen, Chloe (2021) Investigating the Relationship Between Loneliness, Evaluation Anxiety and Gender on The Prediction of Social Anxiety in an Irish Context. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Aims: The current study sought to provide a greater understanding of the predictive relationship between the presence of loneliness and evaluation anxiety symptoms on levels of social anxiety in a general community sample (aged 18 – 75) while also exploring the gender differences within these variables.

Background: Social anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent and pernicious anxiety disorders. Upon further research, it was found that no research has been conducted on the strength of loneliness, evaluation anxiety and gender to predict social anxiety in an Irish population.

Methodology: A questionnaire was administered to a general community sample (n=251) through google forms which consisted of questions regarding the demographics of the participants and three self-report measures; The UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA LSV3), The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNES), and The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS).

Results: Results showed that higher loneliness scores and higher evaluation anxiety scores were associated with positively associated with higher levels of social anxiety. In addition, age was negatively associate with higher levels of social anxiety. Alternatively, gender and years in education were not associated with social anxiety. Loneliness and evaluation anxiety explained 57.6% of variance in social anxiety levels. Both variables were found to uniquely predict social anxiety levels to a statistically significantly level, although loneliness was marginally stronger.

Conclusions: Findings provide a greater understanding of the development of anxiety among an Irish population with varying degrees of social anxiety disorder symptoms. Strengths and limitations of this study are discussed. As well as direct and societal level implications regarding mental health issues in Ireland.

Item Type: Thesis (Undergraduate)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Social anxiety; Evaluation anxiety; Loneliness; Gender; Ireland; General community
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Emotions
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > Gender
D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > Ireland
Divisions: School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User: Clara Chan
Date Deposited: 10 Aug 2021 13:40
Last Modified: 20 Sep 2021 09:57
URI: https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/4921

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