Distribution of social anxiety symptoms and associated factors among undergraduate medical students in Mogadishu, Somalia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Social anxiety is a common and debilitating psychiatric condition marked by an intense fear of negative evaluation in social situations, leading to significant impairments in occupational, academic, and daily functioning. Among medical students, this fear can significantly impede essential interpersonal interactions and academic performance. Despite its clinical significance, social anxiety remains under-researched in low-resource contexts, including Somalia. This study aims to assess the distribution and severity of social anxiety symptoms and identify its associated factors among medical students