Ethnic differences in social anxiety between individuals of Asian-heritage and European-heritage: a meta-analytic review

Abstract

Differences between Asian-heritage and European-heritage individuals have been found in both the prevalence and expression of social anxiety. Previous research suggests higher social anxiety among AH individuals, but both the methodology and the findings have been mixed and the effect sizes varied widely. The purpose of this meta-analytic study was to examine whether the AH/EH differences in social anxiety were robust across various moderators, and how these differences may be accounted by ethnic differences in self-construal and acculturative stress. The meta-analysis revealed a moderate mean effect size of d = 0.36, CI [0.27, 0.44]. Moderator analyses demonstrated that these effects were robust across moderators. Results of meta-regression analyses indicated that independent self-construal significantly contributed to social anxiety. Directions for future research include exploration of measurement issues, and a need to develop a theoretical model that includes factors that mediate the ethnic differences in independent self-construal and differences in social anxiety.