Social Anxiety and Associated Factors among Young and Middle-Aged Adults with Hearing Loss

Objective This study aimed to examine the current status of social anxiety and identify associated factors among young and middle‐aged adults with hearing loss (HL) to inform clinical interventions. Study Design A cross‐sectional study was conducted involving young and middle‐aged individuals diagnosed with HL. Setting Participants were recruited from the department of otolaryngology at a tertiary Grade A general hospital using convenience sampling. Methods A total of 218 hospitalized individuals with HL were included. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the abbreviated 6‐item Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS‐6), and the 6‐item Social Phobia Scale (SPS‐6). Results Of the 218 distributed questionnaires, 213 were valid. Among the respondents, 21.1% ( n = 45) had SIAS‐6 scores ≥ 12, and 25.8% ( n = 55) had SPS‐6 scores ≥ 9. Logistic regression analysis identified sleep disorders (OR = 2.716; 95% CI: 1.241–5.944), monthly individual incomes (OR = 0.451; 95% CI: 0.206–0.990), and higher depression levels (OR = 8.041; 95% CI: 3.700–17.476) as significant predictors of social interaction anxiety ( p < 0.05). Lower monthly individual incomes (OR = 0.388; 95% CI: 0.188–0.799) and higher depression levels (OR = 9.080; 95% CI: 4.436–18.584) were significantly associated with social phobia ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Social interaction anxiety and social phobia are relatively common among young and middle‐aged adults with HL. Medical staff should assess social anxiety in this population, implement timely targeted interventions, and prevent or reduce the occurrence of social interaction anxiety and social phobia in young and middle‐aged patients with HL.