A comparison of schema modes and self-beliefs related to social anxiety in individuals with subclinical social anxiety disorder and without social anxiety disorder: a preliminary finding

ABSTRACT

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the most common anxiety disorder and has serious negative effects on multiple areas of life. The possibility of comorbidity with other disorders and malfunction in different domains of life exists in both full-blown and subclinical social anxiety. This study aimed to compare the schema modes and self-beliefs related to social anxiety in individuals with subclinical social anxiety disorder and without social anxiety disorder. Multistage cluster random and purposive sampling methods were used to select 100 students, 50 with and 50 without symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Participants were evaluated in regard to schema modes, self-beliefs related to social anxiety, social anxiety, depression, and generalized anxiety disorder. They were then evaluated clinically through Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). Data analysis was performed by Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) which showed that there was a significant difference between the groups of individuals with and without symptoms of social anxiety in schema modes and self-beliefs related to social anxiety (p < 0.001). The obtained results can contribute to a deeper understanding of the dimensions of vulnerability underlying subclinical social anxiety disorder in the relationship between symptoms of subclinical social anxiety disorder and schema modes.

KEYWORDS:

• Schema modes
• self-beliefs related to social anxiety
• social anxiety
• subclinical social anxiety disorder
• university students

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study did not benefit from any funds or financial support.

Notes on contributors

Razieh Pak

Razieh Pak is a researcher and has a PhD in psychology from University of Tabriz (Tabriz).

Majid Mahmoud Alilou

Prof. Majid Mahmoud Alilou is a psychotherapy researcher and clinical psychotherapist. He currently is a professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Tabriz and the President of the East Azerbaijan Psychology System.

Mansur Bayrami

Prof. Mansur Bayrami is a researcher and educational psychologist. He currently is a professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology at the University of Tabriz.

Abass Bakhshi Pour Roudsari

Prof. Abass Bakhshipour Roudsari is a psychotherapy researcher and clinical psychotherapist. He currently is a professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Tabriz.