SOCIAL ANXIETY SUBTYPES AMONG ARAB STUDENT TEACHERS: DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIALEMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

The current study examines the demographic, social-emotional and educational
differences between 543 Arab minority student teachers with and without specific and
generalized social anxiety. For this purpose, the participants responded to the research
tools which measure these aspects and they were divided into three categories (no social
anxiety, specific social anxiety, and generalized social anxiety). The findings indicated
that the average age of the student teachers with generalized social anxiety was higher
than the average age of those with specific social anxiety, while no differences were
found between the two categories in certain demographic variables. The study found
that average social anxiety, social fear and social avoidance levels were higher among
student teachers with generalized social anxiety than among those with specific social
anxiety. In addition, there is a statistically significant correlation between levels of
social anxiety and levels of depression and motivation for learning, while there are no
statistically significant correlations between levels of social anxiety and levels of selfesteem and perceived social and family support.