Summary: The Beck Anxiety Inventory

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) states that generalized anxiety disorder presents itself through excessive worrying. It may also manifest itself in more physical symptoms such as sleep disturbance and muscle tension. The Beck Anxiety Inventory is a test that analyzes these symptoms of anxiety through a series of questions. It provides a method for psychologists to measure anxiety levels in an individual. Social behaviours have a large impact on such anxiety. Friendships, social media use and cell phone use can influence the symptoms experienced by university students. Cell phones have become a prominent feature among university students with 77% of adolescents owning a cell phone (Reed, Tolman, Ward & Safyer, 2016). This digital means of communicating allows one to reach someone through a phone call or a text in a matter of seconds. Lepp, Barkley, and Karpinski (2014) found that cell phones can create an addiction like behaviour where users use the device compulsively. This frequent …show more content…
This communication medium is easily accessible and creates a social pressure to be available at all times. Woods and Scott (2016) stated that because adolescents are going through a period of increased vulnerability for symptoms of anxiety and depression, social media use is able to have a much greater impact. The obsessive social media use that can be seen today can influence sleeping habits, self-esteem and mental wellbeing. Teens may even become so invested in their apps and websites that anxiety is experienced which social media outlets such as cell phones and laptops are removed from their lives. (Woods & Scott 2016) A cyclic effect seemingly occurs as although the use leads to an increased level of anxiety, the removal of these websites and applications can also lead to a rise in anxiety