Social Anxiety and Perceived Social Support in Emerging Adulthood

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23980656

Akshita Lamba¹, Shubham Sharma², and Prerna Singh³ (Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh¹, Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh², and Department of Psychology, UILAH, Chandigarh University, Punjab³)

The transition from being a teenager to a young adult, a person goes through significant change in terms of sense of identity, societal, personal and familial expectations. Many people during this transition struggle with their mental health in an attempt to establish a new support system from scratch. Two major factors contribute to this, social anxiety, which is triggered by the constant fear of being judged, and a lack of a secure base or “anchor”. This review looks at the two-way connection between social anxiety and social support that students have during their time at college based on interactions in class or on social media, through the means of Narrative Qualitative approach. People who are anxious in social situations often try to protect themselves by keeping to themselves, which over time, leads them to lose their support circle. At the same time, absence of a steady support system makes the campus atmosphere appear even less appealing, which adds to the anxiety. Other aspects like having an insecure attachment, not being aware of one’s own feelings, and comparing oneself to others on social media potentially worsens things, which can lead to feelings of isolation, lower grades, and a sense of not belonging. To aid students succeed in life, and live meaningful lives, mental health programs should offer both: tailored counselling and low-stress in the classroom, and group-based programs that will help people feel connected and in control when they are around others.