Study of the effect of social anxiety and social support on third place perceptions in student samples

Author

Lillian M. LeStrange, University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaFollow

Project Director

Howell, Ashley

Department Examiner

Black, Kristen Jennings, 1991-; Simoni, Zachary R.

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and perceived social support are well-documented to influence social interaction styles and behaviors. Some data suggests that SAD and social support relate to perceptions and familiarity with various public spaces outside of home and work (i.e., third places). This study assessed relations among social anxiety, self-perceived social support, and attitudes/beliefs about ten common third places (i.e., perceived degree of restorativeness, preference, and sentiment for these places) among undergraduate psychology students (n = 92). Contrary to predictions based on prior research (Fong et al, 2021, Case & Hunter, 2012), social anxiety symptoms did not correlate with any aspect of third-place perceptions. The hypothesis that social anxiety would negatively relate to perceived social support was supported; additionally, social support was found to have small significant positive correlations with both third place restorativeness and preference, although third place sentiment had no correlation. Future research is required to further explore how symptoms of social anxiety may have a relationship with the type of third places people frequent and their feelings when inhabiting these places, as well as how various forms of social support may play a moderating role in third place perceptions.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my thesis director, Dr. Ashley Howell, for her patient guidance and dedication that allowed me to pursue this project over this past year; this thesis would not have been possible without her expertise and advice. I would also like to thank Dr. Kristen Black and Dr. Zachary Simoni for their support and presence on my committee. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and family for their encouragement and unwavering support throughout the length of this project.

IRB Number

24-101

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

12-2024

Subject

Anxiety disorders; College students--Social conditions; Social interaction--United States; Social phobia

Keyword

social anxiety; social support; third places; social interaction; attachment theory; cognitive theory of social anxiety

Discipline

Personality and Social Contexts

Document Type

Theses

Extent

i, 47 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Date Available

12-1-2025

Recommended Citation

LeStrange, Lillian M., "Study of the effect of social anxiety and social support on third place perceptions in student samples" (2024). Honors Theses.
https://scholar.utc.edu/honors-theses/594