Social anxiety is a topic which came in the focus of scientific interest in the last two decades. Some characteristics of it are presented in the article and also suggestion about developmental roots of social anxiety because of some cognitive and emotional changes in adolescence. A questionnaire of social anxiety in adolescence (VSAA) was constructed. Factor analysis of the VSAA yielded 3 factors. The questionnaire was used to compare two groups of adolescents (N = 266) - younger (age 15) and older (age 20). Theresults showed that the components of social anxiety (fear of negative evaluation, distress and inhibition with familiar and unfamiliar peers) decrease through adolescence. We also found some differences within sex. The males showed more emotional distress with unfamiliar peers and more reluctancetowards self-display in a group of peers or in the classroom.
|
