Psychosocial Predictors of Social Anxiety in Children

Predictores psicosociales de la ansiedad social en niños

Susana Castaños-Cervantes , Nicole Vélez-Agosto

Suma Psicológica, (2020), 27(1), pp. 43-51.

Received 6 October 2019
Accepted 23 April 2020

doi: https://doi.org/10.14349/sumapsi.2020.v27.n1.6

Resumen

La ansiedad social (AS) constituye uno de los desórdenes psiquiátricos más prevalentes en la infancia que afecta negativamente el bienestar y acumula desventajas a lo largo de la vida. El objetivo de este estudio fue predecir AS por primera vez en México usando los siguientes predictores: asertividad, fobia específica, trastorno obsesivo compulsivo, trastorno de ansiedad por separación, autoconcepto, afrontamiento y depresión. Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente a 649 menores de entre 6-13 años de edad (M=8.87, DT=1.889) de escuelas primarias públicas de la Ciudad de México. Los principales resultados obtenidos mediante un análisis de regresión múltiple mostraron que la fobia específica, el trastorno obsesivo compulsivo, la asertividad indirecta y el trastorno de ansiedad por separación significativamente predicen AS en ambos sexos. Referente a los niños, la asertividad también fue un predictor relevante, mientras que en las niñas lo fue el concepto actual. El modelo de regresión explicó el 56.3% de la varianza para niños y 43.5% de la varianza para niñas. Los hallazgos de este estudio –comorbilidad de AS con trastornos de ansiedad- subrayan la importancia de estrategias tempranas de intervención para prevenir el desarrollo de otros trastornos. Además, dado que la asertividad fue un predictor significativo, el entrenamiento asertivo debe ser promovido en las escuelas, con los padres e incluido en los programas de intervención para que estos sean eficientes y sostenibles, y para prevenir y disminuir la ansiedad social.


Palabras clave:
Ansiedad social, asertividad, afrontamiento, autoconcepto, trastornos de ansiedad

Abstract

Social Anxiety (SA) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in childhood that negatively impacts well-being and fosters cumulative disadvantages throughout life. The aim of this study was to predict SA for the first time in Mexico using these explanatory factors: assertiveness, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, self-concept, depression, and coping skills. 649 children aged 6-13 years old (M=8.87, SD=1.889) were randomly selected from public elementary schools in Mexico City. The main results obtained with multiple regression analyses showed that specific phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, indirect assertiveness, and separation anxiety disorder significantly predicted SA in both genders. Concerning boys, assertiveness was also a relevant explanatory variable. Regarding girls, actual self-concept was also a significant predictor. The regression model explained 56.3% of the variance for boys, and 43.5% of the variance for girls. The findings of our study -comorbidity of SA with anxiety disorders- underline the importance of early intervention strategies to prevent the development of other disorders. Also, since assertiveness was a significant predictor, assertiveness training should be promoted in schools, with parents, and included in intervention programs in order for them to be efficient and sustainable, and to prevent and diminish social anxiety.


Keywords:
Social anxiety, assertiveness, coping, self-concept, anxiety disorders

Artículo Completo
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