The impact of self-esteem on social anxiety among adolescents in rural Mongolia

(A case of eastern region of Mongolia)

Abstract

Social anxiety is a significant psychological challenge during adolescence, often linked to self-evaluation factors. This study investigates the extent to which self-esteem predicts social anxiety levels in a regional Mongolian context. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 1,200 adolescents (N = 1,200) from Khentii, Dornod, and Sukhbaatar provinces. Data were collected using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A). Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and simple linear regression, were performed using SPSS. The findings revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between self-esteem and social anxiety (r = -.154, p < .001). Regression analysis indicated that the model was significant, F(1, 1198) = 29.27, p < .001, with self-esteem accounting for 2.4% of the variance in social anxiety. Self-esteem was identified as a significant negative predictor (β = -.154, t = -5.41, p < .001), suggesting that lower self-evaluation is associated with higher social anxiety symptoms. The results of this study indicate that self-esteem is a significant but modest predictor of social anxiety among adolescents. Although the explained variance is modest, the high level of significance underscores the necessity of integrating self-esteem-building interventions into school-based mental health programs