Cognitive Distortions and Their Relationship to Social Phobia Among Middle School Students

Abstract

The present study aimed to reveal the relationship between cognitive distortions and social phobia among middle school students, and to determine the differences in cognitive distortions according to the variables of gender and birth order (oldest, middle, youngest). To this end, the study adopted the descriptive-analytical method and was applied to a sample of 170 students at the "Mechri Ahmed" Middle School in Tiaret (western Algeria), using the Cognitive Distortions Scale (designed by the researcher) and the Social Phobia Scale developed by the researcher Warda Belhocini (2011). The results revealed the existence of a correlational relationship between cognitive distortions and social phobia among the sample members, together with the absence of statistically significant differences in cognitive distortions attributable to the variables of gender and birth order.