Social Anxiety in University Students of the School of Medicine UNC

Abstract

The current study was carried out by comparing college students of the first 3 levels of the Medicine degree, U.N.C, with students of the University of Business and Social Sciences (UCES), Bs As. Who study the same levels of the Medicine Degree.

The general objectives were to assess whether there are social phobias in students during the early years of their medical studies (level 1, 2 and 3) and to examine possible qualitative and quantitative differences in groups that study Medicine in public and private universities.

Quantitative Standardized Surveys (Hamilton inventory) and 2) qualitative focus groups were used. This is a non-experimental and cross-sectional descriptive investigation. The sample was taken from 987 students in the public university and 893 in the private one.  The comparison of the groups in the socio-demographic variables (age and sex) was analyzed.

We found the existence of moderate social phobia in second and third – year students of the Medicine Degree in Public University.  Similarly, we found moderate phobia in first- year students of the Private University. It was verified with a score between 18 and 24, indicating mild to moderate anxiety. No significant differences were found in respect of age and sex.

A moderate incidence of social anxiety was found in college students who study Medicine in Public as well as in Private Universities. This type of anxiety affects the academic performance and general well-being of the students. The highest levels of social anxiety were found in second and third –year students, in the public university and in first-year students, in the private university. This would indicate that there is a better institutional support in the private university. Regarding the focus groups, the reasons argued were equal for both universities; fear of sitting for an exam, of not getting the degree, of disappointing their parents, of not being able to interact with their classmates.