Young adulthood is a time of growing independence, identity formation, and new social demands. A study from Kosovo suggests that early bonds with parents and the struggle to become independent may help explain who is most at risk.
The study, published in The Open Psychology Journal, was led by Aferdita Ahmeti of the Faculty of Psychology at AAB College in Pristina, working with Gordana Stankovska. It examined attachment, separation from parents, and social anxiety among university students.
Attachment describes the emotional bonds people form, usually starting with their parents. Separation-individuation refers to the process of becoming an independent person while staying emotionally connected to family.
The researchers recruited 250 students aged 18–24, with equal numbers of men and women and an average age of 21.5. All were enrolled at AAB College in the 2024/25 academic year and were recruited through convenience sampling, and the questionnaires were completed in English. Participants completed established questionnaires on attachment, separation-individuation, and social anxiety.
Using a statistical grouping method, the team identified four attachment profiles. These were secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-preoccupied, and fearful or disorganised.
Students in all three insecure groups had higher social anxiety than those who were securely attached. This applied to fear and anxiety, avoidance of social situations, and emotional distress.
Several aspects of separation-individuation were also linked to social anxiety. These included feeling restricted by parental control, anxiety about separation, and longing for childhood.
When the researchers looked at which factors best predicted social anxiety, three stood out. These were unresolved family trauma, a negative view of other people, and separation anxiety.
The authors say the findings support developmental models that stress the importance of relationships in psychological health. Difficulties with autonomy, emotional connection, and insecure relational patterns may leave young adults more vulnerable to social anxiety.
The authors note that early experiences of care, including love, attention, and responsiveness, help shape the mental models people hold of themselves and others later in life.
The study has limits. It was cross-sectional and drew on a relatively homogeneous group of students from a single college, so it cannot show cause and effect and may not apply to non-students or clinical groups. Students who reported a diagnosed mental disorder were excluded.
Even so, the authors argue that relational and emotional factors should be built into prevention and treatment for young adults. They suggest that interventions focused on attachment security and the development of autonomy may help reduce social anxiety and improve psychological adjustment. Clinicians may also benefit from assessing both attachment insecurity and difficulties with separation-individuation, and therapy that addresses dependency issues and fear of rejection could help reduce symptoms.
For universities, the findings point to the family experiences young people bring with them as one factor behind social anxiety on campus.
