The Role of Childhood Trauma, Bullying and Parental Bonding in Adolescent Social Phobia: A Mental Health Nursing Perspective in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Social phobia is prevalent in adolescence and may be shaped by early adversity and family context; Southeast Asian evidence remains limited. OBJECTIVES/AIMS/HYPOTHESES: This study aimed to examine whether childhood trauma, bullying experiences, and parental bonding predict adolescent social phobia. Demographic variables (age and gender) were also examined descriptively. We hypothesized that higher levels of trauma and bullying, as well as non-optimal parental bonding, would be associated with greater social phobia. DESIGN: Quantitative Exploratory. METHODS (SETTING, INCLUSION/EXCLUSION): We surveyed 252 students (aged 15-18) from a public senior high school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Inclusion: active enrollment and assent; parental consent for minors. Exclusion: current clinician-diagnosed psychiatric disorder under treatment. Instruments included the Childhood trauma was assessed using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF), Parental Bonding Instrument, Bullying Experience Scale, and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale - Self Report. Data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Participants were mostly aged 16 years (40.5%) and female (61.1%). Trauma was commonly mild to moderate; non-optimal bonding was present in a sizable minority; bullying ranged from low to moderate for many. Social phobia was predominantly mild to moderate. Regression showed the model was significant (R = 0.652; R2 = 0.425; Adjusted R2 = 0.416; F (3,248) = 61.820, p < .001). Childhood trauma (B = 0.285, p < .001) and bullying (B = 0.312, p = .001) positively predicted social phobia, while optimal parental bonding was protective (B = -0.204, p = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Future research could explore the effectiveness of nurse-led screening, school based anti-bullying, and family psychoeducation interventions to minimize social phobia among adolescents. IMPACT STATEMENT: Childhood trauma, bullying, and parental bonding predict adolescent social phobia, highlighting the importance of family and school-based mental health interventions.