Investigating the Effect of Family Communication Patterns on the Level of Social Anxiety among Secondary High School Students

Anxiety disorders are among the most common adolescent disorders affected by family communication patterns. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of family communication patterns on the level of social anxiety in high school students in Ahvaz in 2018.

This cross-sectional study was performed via the descriptive-correlation method. Participants included 354 high school students in Ahvaz in 2018, who were selected by multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected via demographic characteristics questionnaire, communication pattern questionnaire, and standard adolescent social anxiety questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26 software.

The mean (SD) age of students was 17.4 (0.9). Among communication patterns, the mean (SD) score of dialogue was 33.9 (13.1) and conformity 19.2 (10.3). The mean (SD) score of social anxiety was 80.6 (18.4). Social anxiety was low in 3% of students, medium in 72%, and high in 25%. Decreased dialogue communication pattern with a mean (SD) of 33.9 (13.1) was associated with increased social anxiety with a mean (SD) of 80.6 (18.4), r=-0.2, P<0.05. Increased score of compliance communication pattern with a mean (SD) of 19.2 (10.3) was associated with decreased social anxiety, r=0.3, P<0.05.

The study showed that decreased listening communication patterns and increased compliance orientation communication pattern were associated with increased social anxiety among students.