The role of meta-cognitive beliefs and self-efficacy in predicting social phobia in third grade boy students in Kermanshah

Anxiety disorders, particularly social phobia, are one of the most important disorders in schools requiring attention. Given the importance of this matter, the purpose of the present research was to study the relationship of meta- cognitive beliefs and self-efficacy with social phobia and to compare these beliefs in individuals with and without social phobia. Using a multistage cluster sampling procedure, a sample of 136 12th grade high school students in Kermanshah was selected. Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Meta-Cognitive Beliefs Questionnaire, and General Self Efficacy were used to gather data. The design of study was correlational. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Results revealed that positive beliefs about worry, cognitive competence, cognitive self consciousness, total meta-cognitive beliefs and self-efficacy were negatively correlated with social phobia, while beliefs about thought control correlated positively with social phobia. It can be concluded that meta- cognitive beliefs and self-efficacy are effective in predicting social phobia.