Sociocultural Influences on Social Anxiety Among Asian Diasporas in the West

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify sociocultural factors studied in relation to social anxiety in Asians residing in Western societies and synthesize findings on their relationships with social anxiety. A systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest. The last search was performed on August 30, 2024. Studies that examined social anxiety outcomes and sociocultural factors in an Asian sample living in Western countries were included. Meta-analyses were conducted for variables with more than four independent effect sizes (Pearson’s r) reported across the identified studies. Thirty-five studies were identified and synthesized. Five broad themes of sociocultural factors emerged in the current review: (a) self-concept influenced by cultural beliefs: self-construal (independent and interdependent) and loss of face; (b) bicultural experiences: acculturation (the adaption to a new culture), enculturation (the acquisition and retention of one’s heritage culture), and bicultural identity integration; (c) discrimination; (d) family and peer influences; and (e) social situations. Meta-analyses were run for four variables: independent self-construal (k = 8), interdependent self-construal (k = 8), acculturation (k = 7), and enculturation (k = 5). Results showed that independent self-construal and acculturation were negatively associated with social anxiety among Asians living in Western societies. Findings regarding interdependent self-construal and enculturation were mixed and require further elucidation. The findings underscore the impact of sociocultural factors on social anxiety and offer insights for developing more culturally responsive practices. Limitations of the literature and recommendations for future research are discussed.

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