Empowering Resilience: Understanding the Sociological Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescent Social Anxiety in the Middle East

Abstract

This study investigates the sociological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social anxiety symptoms among adolescents in the Middle East. Understanding this impact is of vital importance, given the pressing need to address the mental health challenges faced by young individuals in the region. A sample of 470 adolescents, aged 11-19, from middle and secondary schools in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates participated in this research. To assess social anxiety symptoms, participants completed a researcher-designed questionnaire. The data analysis involved rigorous statistical tests, including a three-dimensional Likert scale to measure participants' views on the level of their social anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The data analysis involved a three-dimensional Likert scale and descriptive analysis methods, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the sociological impact. Additionally, statistical techniques such as frequencies, percentages, and the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were utilized to analyze the data. These rigorous data analysis techniques ensure the reliability and validity of our findings. The results revealed a significant sociological impact of the pandemic on various dimensions of social anxiety symptoms among adolescents. Physical symptoms ranked first, with 73.36% of participants experiencing increased redness of the face, sweating, and physical discomfort during social interactions. Behavioral symptoms ranked second at 66.55%, characterized by negative behavior, anticipation of negative judgment, and avoidance of social gatherings. Cognitive symptoms ranked third at 64.24%, involving negative thought patterns, avoiding self-expression, and suppressing unique thoughts. Lastly, psychological symptoms ranked fourth at 64.11%, encompassing low self-esteem, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Based on our findings, we emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the mental health challenges faced by adolescents in the Middle East. Practical and policy implications include implementing mental health support systems, raising awareness about social anxiety symptoms, implementing social skills training programs, promoting online safety measures, engaging parents in supporting their children's mental well-being, and implementing school-based interventions. These recommendations aim to mitigate the sociological impact of the pandemic on social anxiety symptoms among adolescents in the region and foster their overall mental health.