Publication: Understanding the cognitive process of imagery in young adults with social anxiety
| dc.contributor.author | Salleh, Nurizzati Mohd | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-10T08:13:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-10T08:13:57Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Social anxiety is characterized by a persistent fear of being judged or negatively evaluated in social situations, often leading to avoidance behaviours and emotional distress. Mental imagery, defined as the ability to generate sensory-like experiences in the absence of external stimuli, has been found to play a critical role in social anxiety. Although previous research highlights the significance of mental imagery in maintaining social anxiety, findings remain inconsistent regarding the vividness and frequency of these mental images, especially among young adults and non-clinical populations in Malaysia. This study aimed to investigate how different levels of social anxiety affect three key aspects of mental imagery: vividness of visual imagery, vividness of sensory imagery, and frequency of mental imagery among Malaysian young adults. A cross-sectional comparative design was employed. A total of 137 university students aged 18 to 26 participated after being screened using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale–Self-Report (LSAS-SR) and categorized into high and low social anxiety groups. Participants completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q), and the Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS). Data were analyzed using Welch’s t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests. The results revealed statistically significant differences in the vividness of both visual imagery and sensory imagery, with individuals in the low social anxiety group reporting higher vividness. However, no significant difference was found in the frequency of mental imagery between the groups. These findings suggest that social anxiety may impair the clarity, but not the frequency of mental imagery. This study contributes to existing cognitive models of social anxiety and supports the advancement of tailored psychological assessments and evidence-based interventions for socially anxious young adults, particularly those in higher education settings. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://erepo.usm.my/handle/123456789/23769 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | Social anxiety | |
| dc.subject | cognitive process | |
| dc.title | Understanding the cognitive process of imagery in young adults with social anxiety | |
| dc.type | Resource Types::text::thesis::master thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oairecerif.author.affiliation | Universiti Sains Malaysia |