Social anxiety among nursing students

• Main Authors: Buncuan, Jane, John, Calvin
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: RT Nursing
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/19262/1/Poster%20JBnCJ%20-%20Malaysia.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/19262/; http://repository.unimus.ac.id/id/eprint/631

Introduction: Social anxiety is a constant excessive fear of social environment where embarrassment may occur. This excessive fear could cause social and occupation functioning. It one of the influencing factors of an individual’s mental health. The prevalence of social anxiety among younger people is increasing and it is becoming a major problem especially to the healthcare where there is constant interaction happens between people and the healthcare practitioner. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore social anxiety among nursing students. Methodology: Qualitative approach was used and face-to-face interview sessions were conducted. Ethical approval was sought. Participants were nursing students who has the experience of social anxiety. They were selected based on their willingness to share their experience. Data saturation was reached at the sixth participant. Data was compiled, transcribed and analysed manually. Findings: Three major themes emerged: (1) experiences of social anxiety especially while they were being observed performing procedures or tasks, (2) factors contributing to social anxiety, and (3) coping strategies to social anxiety. Conclusion: This study shades some light about the experiences of social anxiety among nursing students. It provides information about some factors that contribute to social anxiety among nursing students and on coping with social anxiety. It could help students and many others to overcome social anxiety and hence able to plan early to decrease and manage social anxiety.