Social Anxiety and Social Exclusion among Youth: Mediating Role of Ruminative Thinking

Abstract

The study was conducted to explore the relationship between Social Anxiety and Social Exclusion with the mediating role of Ruminative Thinking among youth. Sample included 300 university students (Males= 157 and Females= 143). For the measurement of social anxiety SIAS-6 & SPS-6 (Peter et al., 2012) was administered, Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire (Brinker & Dozois, 2009) was used for ruminative thinking and Social Exclusion Scale (Vrooman & Hoff, 2013) was used for the measurement of social exclusion. 1) It was hypothesized that there is a positive relationship between social anxiety, ruminative thinking and social exclusion among youth. 2) It was hypothesized that the relationship between social anxiety and social exclusion will be mediated by ruminative thinking among youth. 3) It was also hypothesized that there is a gender difference on social anxiety, ruminative thinking and social exclusion among youth. Research findings revealed that the social anxiety is significantly positively correlated with ruminative thinking whereas ruminative thinking is negatively significantly correlated with limited social participation, lack of normative integration, inadequate access to basic social rights and material deprivation among youth. It was found that the relationship between the social anxiety (social interaction anxiety and social phobia) and social exclusion (limited social participation, lack of normative integration, inadequate access to basic social rights and material deprivation) is mediated by ruminative thinking among youth. It was also found that females have significantly higher level of social anxiety, social interaction anxiety and social phobia whereas males have significantly low social participation than females. Results of the present research are beneficial in improving the academic functioning, social interactions, and quality of life of young people