Logopedics, Vol. 15 No. 2, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31299/log.15.2.5
Determinants of social anxiety in people who stutter - the role of psychological resilience and social support
Sara Čatipović
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
*
Mirjana Tonković
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Stuttering is a communication disorder that often has a negative impact on individuals’ psychosocial functioning, including increased levels of social anxiety. The present study examined the determinants of social anxiety in individuals who stutter and the role of psychological resilience as a potential protective factor in the relationship between self-rated stuttering severity and anxiety. An online questionnaire was completed by 96 adults who stutter. The results showed a positive association between stuttering severity and social anxiety, with individuals who perceive their stuttering as more severe reporting higher levels of social anxiety. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that psychological resilience and social support explained an additional amount of variance in social anxiety beyond that already explained by sociodemographic variables and self-perceived stuttering severity. Female gender, higher self-perceived stuttering severity, and lower psychological resilience were predictors of social anxiety in the final model, with self-perceived stuttering severity being the strongest predictor. Although psychological resilience was negatively associated with social anxiety, contrary to expectations, it did not prove to be a statistically significant moderator of the relationship between self-perceived stuttering severity and social anxiety. These findings highlight the importance of further research into factors directly related to the speech experiences of people who stutter, which may aid in better understanding the psychological consequences of stuttering. The study also offers practical implications for planning support and therapeutic approaches aimed at emotionally empowering individuals who stutter.
Keywords
stuttering; social anxiety; psychological resilience; social support
Hrčak ID:
343656
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2025.
Visits: 620 *