Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach

Hilal Altundal Duru; Edip Aygüler; Gülay Özpolat Aydin

doi:10.66235/kumj.1861391

Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the role of sociodemographic characteristics and parental attitudes in determining social anxiety in primary school children.

Method: This study is a cross-sectional study examining predictive relationships. A total of 253 fourth-grade students from a primary school in southern Türkiye participated in the study between September 1st and December 31st, 2023. Data were collected face-to-face using a Personal Information Form, the Children's Social Anxiety Scale–Revised, and the Parenting Style Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis using the enter method were used to analyze the data.

Results: The mean scores of children on the Social Anxiety Scale for Children–Revised and the sub-dimensions of the Parenting Style Scale (acceptance and interest, psychological autonomy, and control) were 42.30±10.39, 23.05±3.09, 17.06±4.16, and 23.47±2.39, respectively. The regression model examining the relationship between children’s social anxiety levels and the independent variables was significant (F=1.884, p<0.001) and explained 5.9% of the total variance, indicating that while parental acceptance and interest (B=−0.495, p<0.05), psychological autonomy (B=−0.617, p<0.001), and having a mother with a middle school diploma (β=−0.171, p<0.05) were significant predictors, the overall variance explained by the model was low.

Conclusion: This study found that children exhibited moderate levels of social anxiety, while the sub-dimensions of parental attitudes, acceptance/interest, and psychological autonomy were at moderate levels, and control was at a high level. The findings indicate that maternal education level and parental attitudes of acceptance, interest, and psychological autonomy significantly affect children's social anxiety levels. Psychological autonomy support was the strongest predictor of social anxiety. School-based screenings can help identify children at risk for social anxiety early, enabling timely support within educational settings. Family-centered social workers, in collaboration with mental health professionals and integrated health teams, can provide targeted guidance to parents to promote adaptive parenting strategies, such as acceptance, interest, and psychological autonomy.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

To conduct the study, ethical approval was obtained from the Health Sciences Ethics Committee of the relevant university (Date: July 13, 2023; Decision No: 7), and institutional permission was obtained from the primary school where the study was conducted. Written informed consent was obtained from both the parents and the children prior to data collection. In addition, permission to use the scales employed in the study was obtained from the authors via email. The study was carried out in line with the Helsinki Declaration

Thanks

We would like to sincerely thank the children who participated in this study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychiatry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hilal Altundal Duru ^*
0000-0001-6186-0280
Türkiye

Edip Aygüler
0000-0002-8638-9752
Türkiye

Gülay Özpolat Aydin
0009-0001-5789-6261
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 16, 2026

Submission Date

January 12, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1861391

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA26KX78UY

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Altundal Duru, H., Aygüler, E., & Özpolat Aydin, G. (2026). Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach. Kastamonu Medical Journal, 6(2), 150-159. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1861391

AMA

1.Altundal Duru H, Aygüler E, Özpolat Aydin G. Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6(2):150-159. doi:10.66235/kumj.1861391

Chicago

Altundal Duru, Hilal, Edip Aygüler, and Gülay Özpolat Aydin. 2026. “Investigating the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Parental Attitudes in Primary School Children: A Regression Analysis Approach”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 (2): 150-59. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1861391.

EndNote

Altundal Duru H, Aygüler E, Özpolat Aydin G (June 1, 2026) Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 2 150–159.

IEEE

[1]H. Altundal Duru, E. Aygüler, and G. Özpolat Aydin, “Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach”, Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 150–159, June 2026, doi: 10.66235/kumj.1861391.

ISNAD

Altundal Duru, Hilal - Aygüler, Edip - Özpolat Aydin, Gülay. “Investigating the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Parental Attitudes in Primary School Children: A Regression Analysis Approach”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6/2 (June 1, 2026): 150-159. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1861391.

JAMA

1.Altundal Duru H, Aygüler E, Özpolat Aydin G. Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6:150–159.

MLA

Altundal Duru, Hilal, et al. “Investigating the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Parental Attitudes in Primary School Children: A Regression Analysis Approach”. Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 150-9, doi:10.66235/kumj.1861391.

Vancouver

1.Hilal Altundal Duru, Edip Aygüler, Gülay Özpolat Aydin. Investigating the relationship between social anxiety and parental attitudes in primary school children: A regression analysis approach. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026 Jun. 1;6(2):150-9. doi:10.66235/kumj.1861391