Study on the Influence of Social Anxiety on Psychological Adaptation of College Freshmen: Analysis of Situational Differences

Freshmen often face adaptation challenges during environmental transitions, independent living, and social pattern changes, with social anxiety being a prominent psychological issue. This study adopted a cross-sectional design, involving 248 freshmen from a university in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The Social Anxiety Scale for College Students (SASS-CS) and Psychological Adaptation Scale were used for assessment. Results revealed: (1) Overall social anxiety levels among freshmen were moderately high (M = 3.04), with the highest anxiety caused by “working under public scrutiny” (M = 3.19); (2) Psychological adaptation capabilities varied across contexts: adaptation to unfamiliar environments and academic situations was relatively better (M = 3.20), followed by group activities (M = 3.10), while exam anxiety showed the weakest adaptability (M = 3.02); (3) A negative correlation exists between social anxiety and psychological adaptation, indicating higher anxiety levels correlate with lower adaptive capacity. Therefore, universities should prioritize freshmen’s social anxiety issues and provide corresponding support measures such as social skills training, psychological counseling, and stress management techniques to help them better adapt to university life and academic environments.