A comparison on early maladaptive schemas, body image concerns and attribution styles among the teenagers with social anxiety and normal ones

Introduction: Since the teenage years are of the most important and sensitive stages of evolution, the social and individual characteristics within these eras have been paid into attention by several authors. Purpose: Present study was conducted to compare early maladaptive schemas, body image concerns and attribution styles among the teenagers with social anxiety and normal teenagers. Method: the present study is a descriptive casual-comparative work. Hence, a number of 220 students (110 ones with social anxiety disorder and 110 normal ones) were chosen and compared by multistage cluster sampling method from high schools of Karaj. Both groups completed Young's Schema Questionnaire, Body Image Concerns Questionnaire, Attribution Style Questionnaire and Social Phobia Inventory. The data was analysed using the methods descriptive statistics and independent t-test and stepwise regression. Results: the findings showed that the individuals with social anxiety have a more negative attitude to their body compared to normal ones. There is a significant difference between the normal teenagers and those with social anxiety in terms of directedness, vigilance and impaired limits while no significant difference was observed in terms of impaired autonomy and performance, disconnection and rejection. In addition, insignificant differences were found for the variable internal/external attribution styles while significant ones were found in terms of stability/instability and specific/general position. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the individuals with social anxiety have a more negative attitude to appearance specifications and inefficiency attribution styles. This factor causes to intensify social anxiety symptoms among such teenagers. Since this disorder prevents growth of interpersonal skills in the relationships with the peers, the researchers are proposed to develop interventional/educational packages to offer psychological supports for the teenagers with such a disorder.