The relationship between self-Image and social anxiety in adolescence

Self-image is the subjective perception about one’s own self, body, mental functioning, socialattitudes, and adjustment in different aspects of life. Research has linked negative self-image with a numberof problem behaviors and psychiatric symptoms in adolescence; however, studies of the relationship betweenself-image and anxiety disorders are still scarce. Method: This study involved a community sample of 1305high-school students (51.4% female) who ranged in age from 14 to 19 years old. They completed self-reportmeasures of self-image and social anxiety disorder (SAD). Results: A quarter of the students reported high levelsof social anxiety. Statistical analyses showed significant differences between these students and the otherstudents in all the self-image subscales. Several dimensions of impaired self-image (emotional tone, social attitudes,vocational and educational goals, family relationships, external mastery, and psychological health) wereassociated with high levels of social anxiety, with some gender differences underpinning these relationships.Conclusions: Clinicians treating SAD in youth may wish to consider that a negative self-image may play acritical role in the onset and retention of social anxiety symptoms.