SOCIAL INTERACTION, SOCIAL ANXIETY AND SELF-ESTEEM

OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

IN THE NEW NORMAL

A Thesis Presented to the

Faculty of the Graduate School
Filamer Christian University
Roxas City

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree

Master of Arts in Teaching

(Social Science)

by

Caren N. Garcia

September 2022

i
 APPROVAL SHEET

This thesis entitled Social Interaction, Social

Anxiety and Self-Esteem of Junior High School Students in
the New Normal, prepared and submitted by Caren N. Garcia,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts in Teaching (Social Science) is hereby
recommended for acceptance and approval for oral
examination.

VIMA A. OLIVARES, PhD

Adviser

Approved by the Thesis Committee on Oral Examination on

______, 2022.

WEBSTER J. BEDECIR, EdD

Chairperson

EXEQUIEL A. CALIMUTAN, MAT

Member

________________________
External Panel

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching
(Social Science).

Comprehensive Examination passed on June 2021.

ii
_______________ FELIMON A. PIMENTEL, JR., PhD
Date Dean
Acknowledgement

It is with deep feeling of gratitude that the

researcher acknowledged the assistance, inspiration,

guidance, encouragement, and support of those who have

helped her in the preparation and completion of this study.

First, Dr. Felimon A. Pimentel Jr., the Dean of the

Graduate School, for the untiring encouragement and

assistance for the fulfillment of this work;

Dr. Vima A. Olivares, thesis adviser, for the untiring

coaching, professional advice, and patience in editing the

manuscripts for the researcher to accomplish it and beat the

deadlines;

Dr. Webster J. Bedecir, chairman and Prof. Exequiel A.

Calimutan, member of the examining committee, for their

profound critique for the refinement of the manuscript;

Prof. Toni Gay Z. Artates, English critic, for the

editing and polishing of the manuscript and for the

professional advice;

Mrs. Ma. Charly F. Diaz, principal of Macario Bermejo

National High School, for allowing the researcher to conduct

the study in the said school and for the deep understanding

she extended;

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 The researcher is extremely grateful to her beloved

family for their love, prayers, understanding and support

which enabled the researcher to finish this study;

Ma. Shiela Mae G. Villa, sister of the researcher, for

believing in her that she could do it, and for advice and

encouragement especially during those times that the

researcher wanted to stop. Also, for her support financially

and emotionally;

Mr. Jomel V. Natalio, for the love, understanding and

undying support financially and emotionally which enable the

researcher to pass all the challenges encountered during the

conduct of this study;

Frinz Carl Garcia, the researcher’s son, who served as

her inspiration in everything she does;

Mrs. Maribel V. Anonat, co-teacher and co-researcher,

who served as the colleague of the researcher from the

beginning up to the end of this study and for the

encouragement and support extended to the researcher;

Her fellow teachers at Macario Bermejo National High

School who helped her during the pilot testing and actual

conduct of the study;

Above all to Almighty God, the source of everything,

that made this study a success. For the gift of life,

iv
wisdom, patience, perseverance, and gift of family, loved

one and friends that made all this possible.

To all of you, this humble work is dedicated.

Caren N. Garcia

September 2022

v
Garcia, Caren N. “Social Interaction, Social anxiety and
Self-esteem of Junior High School Students in the
New Normal” Unpublished Master of Arts in Teaching
(Social Science) Thesis, Filamer Christian
University, September 2022.

Abstract

This survey – correlational research was conducted to

determine the level of social interaction in relation to

social anxiety and self-esteem in the new normal of Junior

High School Students in Macario Bermejo National High School

for the school year 2021-2022. The respondents of the study

were the 240 taken from the total population of 565 Junior

High School students selected through stratified random

sampling by lottery using Sloven Formula. To measure the

social interaction of students, a 99-item researcher-made

Social Interaction Questionnaire was used. To measure the

social anxiety of students, a 20-item Social Interaction

Anxiety Questionnaire adapted from Mattick and Clark (2012)

was utilized. To measure the students’ level of Self-esteem,

a 10-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale adopted from Azmi et

al (2022) was used. The independent variable of the study

was the social interaction while the dependent variables

were the social anxiety and self-esteem of students.

Frequency count, percentage, mean, and standard deviation as

descriptive statistical tools were utilized for data

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analyses. Moreover, the Pearson r was used as inferential

statistical tool to determine the significance of

relationships among the variables. A two - tailed test was

used at 5% level of significance for all inferential

analysis. Result of the study revealed that the overall

level of social interaction of Junior high school students

was moderate. Specifically, students have a moderate social

interaction with family, friends, classmates, teachers and

neighbors. The overall level of social anxiety of Junior

high school students was moderate. The level of self-esteem

of students was low. There was no significant relationship

between social interaction and social anxiety of students.

There was a significant relationship between social

interaction and self-esteem of students. There was no

significant relationship between social anxiety and self-

esteem of students.

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 Table of Contents
Chapter Page
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 1
Background and Theoretical

Framework of the Study 2

Statement of the Problem and

the Hypotheses 11

Significance of the Study 12

Definition of Terms 14
Delimitation of the Study 16
2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 18
Social Interaction of Students 18

Social Anxiety of Students 25

Self-Esteem of Students 34

Synthesis 45
3 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 48
Purpose of the Study and
Research Design 48

Methods 50
Participants 50
Data Gathering Instruments 52
Data Gathering Procedures 55
Statistical Data Analysis
Procedures 56

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 57

Descriptive Data Analysis 58

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 Social Interaction of Students 58

Social Anxiety of Students 63

Self-Esteem of Students 66

Inferential Data Analysis 69

Relationship Among Social

Interaction, Social Anxiety
and Self-Esteem of Students 69

5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 74

Summary of the Problems, Methods,

and Findings 74

Conclusions 77

Recommendations 81

REFERENCES 90

APPENDIXES 105

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 List of Tables
Table Title Page

1 Distribution of Students in Each

Section 51

2 Mean and Standard Deviation

of Social Interaction of Students 59

3 Mean and Standard Deviation

of Social Anxiety of Students 64

4 Mean and Standard Deviation of

Self-Esteem of Students 66

5 Pearson r Among Social Interaction,

Social Anxiety and Self-Esteem 69
Of Students

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 List of Figure
Figure Title Page

1 Social Anxiety and Self-Esteem of

Junior High School Students as
Influenced by their Social 11
Interaction

xi
 List of Appendixes
Appendix Title Page

A Communication Letters 106

B Data Gathering Instruments 109

C Statistical Analysis
Of Data 121

D Documentation 132

E Curriculum Vitae 138

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