The interplay of social anxiety, self-isolation, and self-esteem in predicting psychological distress in adolescents

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationships between psychological distress, social anxiety, self-isolation, and self-esteem in adolescents, with a focus on identifying predictors of psychological distress. Understanding these relationships can inform mental health interventions aimed at reducing distress in this vulnerable population. A cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 529 adolescents using four validated psychological scales. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were conducted to explore the associations between the variables. The findings revealed that social anxiety (β = 0.393, p < 0.001) and self-isolation (β = 0.344, p < 0.001) are significant positive predictors of psychological distress, while self-esteem (β = -0.126, p < 0.001) negatively predicts distress. The regression model explained 46.6% of the variance in psychological distress, indicating a substantial contribution of these factors to adolescents’ mental health. Social anxiety and self-isolation are key contributors to psychological distress in adolescents, while self-esteem acts as a protective factor. These findings underscore the importance of interventions targeting social anxiety, reducing isolation, and enhancing self-esteem to alleviate psychological distress and improve mental health outcomes in adolescents.