Social Anxiety Among Kindergarten Children in the City of Benghazi

Abstract

This research aimed to identify the level of social fear among kindergarten children in the city of Benghazi from mothers' perspectives, and to examine whether statistically significant differences exist according to gender. A descriptive-analytical approach with a cross-sectional design was adopted. The sample consisted of 254 mothers randomly selected from several public kindergartens in Benghazi during the academic year 2025–2026. A Social Fear Scale of 29 items was applied after verifying its face validity and content validity through a specialized expert panel. The reliability coefficient, computed via Cronbach's alpha, reached 0.74, an acceptable level for descriptive psychological research. Results revealed that the level of social fear among kindergarten children was relatively low compared to the theoretical mean of the scale (M = 52.31 vs. theoretical mean = 58; t was statistically significant at p < 0.05). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were found in social fear levels attributable to gender, reflecting comparable emotional patterns between males and females at this developmental stage. These findings underscore the importance of considering familial and cultural contexts when interpreting manifestations of social fear in early childhood, and affirm the need to develop preventive counseling programs that enhance children's social adjustment within kindergarten settings.