In recent years, the volunteer program of rural service for college students has been widely promoted and implemented, aiming to encourage the younger generation to give back to society and enhance understanding between urban and rural areas. However, in addition to traditional service goals, this study explores the impact of such projects on the social phobia of participants-college students, and how to alleviate their psychological barriers by enhancing their competence.

The study selected 120 students from a university as subjects and randomly divided them into an experimental group and a control group, each with 60 students. There was no difference between the two groups of subjects. The experimental group was provided with innovative service teaching and competency development. The control group did not take such training. Finally, the SCL-90 mental health test was used to evaluate the fear symptoms of college students before and after the intervention.

According to statistical analysis, with the improvement of competence, most participants reported that their fear symptoms had been eased. There was a significant difference in the symptoms of phobia between the two groups of students (P<0.05). The phobia of the experimental group was significantly reduced.

This indicates that innovative service teaching and competency development for college students with phobia can effectively alleviate their negative emotions and provide references for the medical field.

2022 Chongqing Social Science “Research on the Interpretation of the Spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee” (2021YBCS12); 2022 Humanities and Social Science Research Project of Chongqing Education Commission (Ideological and Political Special Project) (22SKSZ080); 2022 Key Project of Higher Education Science Research of Chongqing Higher Education Association (CQGJ21A030).