Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Social anxiety characterised by fear of social interactions and negative evaluation is a growing mental health concern among Chinese college students. Unique stressors, such as academic competition, familial pressures and digital communication paradoxes, may exacerbate symptoms in this...

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Main Authors: Jie Liu, Li Tao, Mengting Zhu, Qiao Lin, Jiali He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2025-08-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e103407.full
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author Jie Liu
Li Tao
Mengting Zhu
Qiao Lin
Jiali He
author_facet Jie Liu
Li Tao
Mengting Zhu
Qiao Lin
Jiali He
author_sort Jie Liu
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Social anxiety characterised by fear of social interactions and negative evaluation is a growing mental health concern among Chinese college students. Unique stressors, such as academic competition, familial pressures and digital communication paradoxes, may exacerbate symptoms in this group. Existing research often lacks systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors and culturally tailored analyses. This meta-analysis and systematic review, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, aims to consolidate evidence on prevalence and determinants, informing targeted interventions for Chinese college students.Methods and analysis Currently, the literature search is in the preliminary stage. We plan to begin this study on 15 June 2025, and it will end on 1 October 2025. The protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted across four English databases (ie, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL in the EBSCO interface and PsycINFO in the ProQuest interface) and three Chinese databases (ie, CNKI, WanFang and SinoMed) for studies from inception to 15 April 2025. Two reviewers will independently screen for eligible studies and undertake data extraction. Any discrepancies will be resolved through group discussion.Ethics and dissemination As this research constitutes a systematic analysis of pre-existing published data, formal ethics committee approval is deemed unnecessary in accordance with international research ethics guidelines. The synthesised findings will be submitted for publication in a rigorously peer-reviewed academic journal and presented at pertinent scientific conferences to ensure transparent knowledge dissemination within the academic community.
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spelling doaj-art-413207495d254e7c9ceabe527a19cb8f2025-08-20T03:44:06ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-08-0115810.1136/bmjopen-2025-103407Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysisJie Liu0Li Tao1Mengting Zhu2Qiao Lin3Jiali He4Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Deyang People’s Hospital, Deyang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, Deyang People’s Hospital, Deyang, Sichuan, ChinaChengdu University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, Deyang People’s Hospital, Deyang, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine, Deyang People’s Hospital, Deyang, Sichuan, ChinaIntroduction Social anxiety characterised by fear of social interactions and negative evaluation is a growing mental health concern among Chinese college students. Unique stressors, such as academic competition, familial pressures and digital communication paradoxes, may exacerbate symptoms in this group. Existing research often lacks systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors and culturally tailored analyses. This meta-analysis and systematic review, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, aims to consolidate evidence on prevalence and determinants, informing targeted interventions for Chinese college students.Methods and analysis Currently, the literature search is in the preliminary stage. We plan to begin this study on 15 June 2025, and it will end on 1 October 2025. The protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted across four English databases (ie, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL in the EBSCO interface and PsycINFO in the ProQuest interface) and three Chinese databases (ie, CNKI, WanFang and SinoMed) for studies from inception to 15 April 2025. Two reviewers will independently screen for eligible studies and undertake data extraction. Any discrepancies will be resolved through group discussion.Ethics and dissemination As this research constitutes a systematic analysis of pre-existing published data, formal ethics committee approval is deemed unnecessary in accordance with international research ethics guidelines. The synthesised findings will be submitted for publication in a rigorously peer-reviewed academic journal and presented at pertinent scientific conferences to ensure transparent knowledge dissemination within the academic community.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e103407.full
spellingShingle Jie Liu
Li Tao
Mengting Zhu
Qiao Lin
Jiali He
Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMJ Open
title Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among Chinese college students: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort prevalence of and factors influencing social anxiety among chinese college students a protocol for a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e103407.full
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