Exploring the relationship between social anxiety and self-esteem in young adults: A gender perspective

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between social anxiety and self-esteem among young adults, with a focus on potential gender differences. A total of 110 participants, consisting of 55 males and 55 females aged 18 to 26, were selected through purposive sampling from Kurukshetra, Haryana. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used to measure social anxiety and self-esteem, respectively. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were conducted to assess the levels and relationships between these variables. The results indicated a significant negative correlation between social anxiety and self-esteem (r =-0.65, p < 0.001), suggesting that higher levels of social anxiety are associated with lower levels of self-esteem. Gender-specific analyses revealed that this negative correlation was stronger in females (r =-0.45, p = 0.01) than in males (r =-0.15, p = 0.05), indicating that females may be more vulnerable to the negative impacts of social anxiety on self-esteem. These findings underscore the importance of addressing social anxiety and self-esteem issues, particularly in young women, to mitigate potential adverse effects on their psychological well-being. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the gender differences in the relationship between social anxiety and self-esteem in young adults.