Predicting chronic anxiety based on social support and coping skills in students.

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of predicting chronic anxiety among students based on the level of perceived social support and coping skills. This study was applied in nature and its method was descriptive–analytical with a predictive correlational approach. Data were collected quantitatively and non-experimentally, and the relationships between variables were examined without researcher intervention. The statistical population included all students of the Islamic Azad University, Tehran West Branch, in the 2024–2025 academic year, whose total number was reported to be about 24,000 individuals. Using the modified Cochran formula and considering a 95% confidence level, a dispersion rate of 0.5, and a permissible error of 0.05, the sample size was estimated to be 378 participants. Sampling was conducted through a convenience sampling method. The inclusion criteria included being currently enrolled, having at least a high school diploma, being between 20 and 40 years old, providing informed consent, and not suffering from psychological disorders. The exclusion criteria included failure to complete the questionnaires, inconsistent responses, experiencing a psychological crisis during the research, and voluntary withdrawal during the implementation stage. Data were collected through three standardized questionnaires: (1) Chronic anxiety with Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); (2) Social support with Phillips Social Support Appraisal (SS-A) Questionnaire; and (3) Coping skills with Carver’s Coping Checklist based on Lazarus’s model. The validity of the instruments was confirmed through content validity and expert approval, and their reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (all above 0.7). The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software at two levels: descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean, chart) and inferential (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Pearson correlation, and univariate and multiple regression analyses). The results of the analysis showed that the level of chronic anxiety can be significantly predicted by perceived social support and coping skills. These findings indicate the important role of social support and coping styles in reducing students’ anxiety and serve as the basis for the practical recommendations of the study.