The effect of recreational activities on phobic attitudes of the university students with social phobia: a comparative study

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Karaguen E., Yıldız M., Başaran Z., Çağlayan Ç.

ANADOLU PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, cilt.11, ss.139-144, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 11
  • Basım Tarihi: 2010
  • Dergi Adı: ANADOLU PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.139-144
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: social phobia, self-respect, recreational activities, sport, music, dance, EXERCISE, ABILITY
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: This study aims to analyze the effect of recreational activities in the elimination of social phobias from which undergraduate sufferers. Methods: Fifty freshmen with social phobias at moderate or severe levels who wanted to participate in the recreational activities voluntarily formed the experimental group while another 50 freshmen who are not willing to take part in these activities formed the control group. As the pre-test, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI) were applied. Last test measurements were carried out on the both after a 12-week program which included recreational activities such as music, dance, bowling, painting, sculpture, scouting, horse-riding, going for picnics, creative drama, ice-skating, and volleyball. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in the initial test, but in the last test total LSAS score in the experimental group dropped from 120.93 +/- 21.14 to 80.95 +/- 20.96 (p=0.000). In the control group, it dropped from 117.05 +/- 16.35 to 107.62 +/- 20.51 (p=0.000). CSEI score increased from 54.98 +/- 20.21 to 65.81 +/- 20.38 (p=0.000) in the experimental group while it increased from 55.00 +/- 16.12 to 59.30 +/- 18.78 (p=0.01) in the control group. A highly significant difference was found between LSAS (p=0.000) and CSEI (p=0.000) scores both in the experimental and control groups. Discussion: The increase in self-confidence and the decrease in avoidance behavior by means of the activities based on social interaction in which the experimental group participated can be thought to be effective in the decrease in social phobia scores. In conclusion, this study has accounted for the fact that recreational activities can be effective in the elimination of social phobia characteristics. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2010; 11:139-144)