Sociocultural contexts of anthropophobia: a sample of Chinese youth

Abstract

  Background: Anthropophobia, a subtype of social phobia, is prevalent in Chinese and Japanese societies. This study investigated sociocultural influences on the course of this culturally specific mental disorder. Method: One hundred and fifty subjects, including 50 anthropophobic, 50 neurasthenic, and 50 community subjects, were interviewed in Beijing, China for the assessment of their early life experiences (child-parent relationships and sexual experiences), collectivism disposition, sexual attitudes, and communication behaviors. Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to examine significant predictors of the occurrence and the symptom level of anthropophobia. Results: Regression models explained 69% of variance in the diagnosis and 57% of variance in the symptom level of anthropophobia among anthropophobic and community subjects. They also explained 48% and 47% of variance respectively in the diagnosis and the level of symptoms among anthropophobic and neurasthenic subjects. Anthropophobic subjects had more problematic relationships with parents than did community and neurasthenic subjects. They also exhibited significantly stronger characteristics of collectivism than did community subjects. Sexual contact with a non-family member prior to age 19 and a feeling of discomfort when interacting with the opposite sex were significantly associated with the diagnosis and symptom level of anthropophobia. Conclusions: It was concluded that anthropophobic subjects' early sexual experiences and need for parental approval shaped their conformity to social norms and negative sexual attitudes, which were reinforced by the collective-orientated cultural environment, and contributed to the development of anthropophobia.