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

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the usage of behavioural cognitive approach in group counselling on social anxiety among adolescents in Malaysia. This study also identified social anxiety sympthoms and social situations that cause anxiety among them. A total of 72 secondary school students of one of the secondary schools in Terengganu participated in this experiment study. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA test. Results revealed that there was a significant difference in the mean score of Social Anxiety Scale for Adolesence – SAS-A in the post test between the control and treatment group, F(1,70) =1.068, p<.05. This indicates that the cognitive behavioural approach in group counseling has found to be effective in reducing social anxiety among adolescents in group counseling. It was also found that the sympthoms that cause social anxiety are the feelings of having a rapid heart beat, difficulty in giving attention, the feeling of getting cold, and empty minds. The social situations that were found to be significant in increasing social anxiety are when they are being observed by others, doing something, talking or giving a speech infront of a big or small audience, facing a stranger, and being the main attraction in any social context.