O estudo da prevalência da fobia social entre estudantes universitários de direito

Abstract

Social phobia (SP) is characterized by an excessive anxiety or fear in situations of social interaction or performance. Although this disorder is often under diagnosed and under recognized by health professionals, it interferes negatively in the subject's life. College students with SP can impair academic performance and influence for truancy. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of FS in the first undergraduates and 8th periods of law school of higher education institutions in the city of Juiz de Fora. The sample was consisted of 522 students, older than 18 years, who responded to the following instruments: sociodemographic questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disease Identifying Test (AUDIT), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Social Phobia Anxiety Inventory (SPAI). The results analyzed by SPAI indicated that 21.1% had a possible and probable social phobia. It was also found that the SP and anxiety symptoms were significantly higher among males than females. The verification of these data provides an understanding of this disorder in this specific population - law student - suggesting the early identification of SAD.