السمنة وعلاقتها باضطراب القلق الاجتماعي في ضوء بعض المتغيرات الديموغرافية لدى طلبة المدارس الثانوية الحكومية
This study aimed at identifying the relationship between obesity and social anxiety disorder among students of public high schools, and to investigate whether gender has any effect on social anxiety levels. The study sample consisted of (400) students, divided into (200) obese students and (200) non-obese students. The study tool was an inventory for social anxiety consisted in its final revision of (25) items, the content validity of the scale was assured by a group of judges, and construct validity was conducted, while Cronbach's alpha and test re-test methods were used to measure reliability. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to distinguish obese students. Data collected were analyzed using The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results of the study showed a statistically significant differences in social anxiety levels in favor of obese students. Results also showed that levels of social anxiety for female students were higher than those for male students. Social anxiety levels were higher for 12th grade students (senior year) compared to 10th grade students. Finally the study recommended raising students awareness about the possible consequences of obesity. The study also stressed the importance of educating teachers about the social and psychological impact of obesity on students, and the poor academic performance as a consequence. (Published abstract)