Evaluating The Structural Model for Causative and Maintaining Factors of Social Anxiety Disorder in Students of Medical Sciences

 Background and purpose: Identifying the nature of social anxiety through its causative factors can provide valuable information for the health system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a structural model for creating and maintaining factors causing social anxiety disorder in students in a medical sciences university. Materials and methods: A descriptive-correlational study was performed in all students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Online questionnaires were completed (n= 670), including social phobia inventory (SPIN), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-3), Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems (BAS/BIS), Older Adult Social-Evaluative Situations Questionnaire (OASES), Social Phobia Safety Behaviors Scale (SPSBS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Mini-Social Thoughts and Beliefs Scale (Mini-STABS), and Self-Beliefs Related to Social Anxiety Scale (SBSA). Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling and Bootstrap method using AMOS software. Results: Fit indices showed that hypothetical research model has a good fit with the data. In the present model, positive significant relationships were found between social anxiety and the paths associated with behavioral inhibition, trust-abuse, defectiveness/shame, social isolation, unrelenting standards via mediators of social-evaluative situations, safety behaviors, emotion regulation, social thoughts and beliefs, and self-beliefs to social anxiety (P<0.0001). But, we observed no significant relationship between social anxiety and emotion regulation mediator path (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Considering the role of etiology and maintenance factors in current model, it can be used in designing treatments for social anxiety and promoting the health of medical students.