Adolescent Social Anxiety: The Usage of Cognitive Behavioural Approach in Group Councelling

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the usage of Behavioural Cognitive approach in group counselling on socialanxiety among adolescents. This study also identified social anxiety sympthoms and social situations that causeanxiety among them. A total of 72 secondary school students from one particular school in Terengganuparticipated in this experimental study. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA test. Resultsrevealed that there was a significant difference in the mean score of Social Anxiety Scale for Adolesence – SASAin the post test between the control and treatment group, F(1,70) =1.068, p<0.05. This indicates that theCognitive Behavioural approach in group counselling was found to be effective in reducing social anxiety amongadolescents in group counselling. It was also found that the sympthoms that caused social anxiety includedhaving rapid heart beat, difficulty in giving attention, experincing chills, and empty thoughts. The socialsituations that were found to be significant in increasing social anxiety were when they felt being observed byothers, doing something in public, talking or giving a speech infront of a big or small audience, facing a stranger,and being the main attraction in any social context.