The Role of Behavioral Avoidance in Predicting Depressive Symptoms in Subjects with Salient Symptoms of Social Phobia

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Abstract

Introduction: The main aim of this study was to explain depression symptoms according to behavioral avoidance in subjects with salient symptoms of social phobia.
Method: Among students who scored 19 and above on Social Phobia Inventory, 123 students were selected by random sampling. Subjects were asked to complete the Social Phobia Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Data were Analysed with Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression analysis.
Results: The results showed that behavioral avoidance was positively associated with depression symptoms. The results also revealed that behavioral avoidance can predict changes of depression symptoms.
Conclusion: The results suggested that behavioral avoidance have important role in explaining depression symptoms in persons with salient symptoms of social phobia. This findings can be important in treating social phobia disorder.

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