Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model
BackgroundSocial anxiety is a prevalent and impairing condition among college students, often interfering with academic performance, emotional wellbeing, and social functioning.ObjectiveThis study aimed to test a moderated mediation model in which self-identity predicts social anxiety, with fear of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1622431/full |
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| author | Shuqi Guo Jiazhong Yang Shicong Zhang Dongzhuo Xue Mingxu Liu |
| author_facet | Shuqi Guo Jiazhong Yang Shicong Zhang Dongzhuo Xue Mingxu Liu |
| author_sort | Shuqi Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundSocial anxiety is a prevalent and impairing condition among college students, often interfering with academic performance, emotional wellbeing, and social functioning.ObjectiveThis study aimed to test a moderated mediation model in which self-identity predicts social anxiety, with fear of negative evaluation (FNE) serving as a mediator and perceived social support acting as a moderator in the latter part of the pathway.MethodsA total of 328 college students (Mage = 19.48, SD = 1.02; 43.29% male) completed standardized self-report measures of self-identity, FNE, social anxiety, and perceived social support. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the proposed model.ResultsSelf-identity significantly negatively predicted social anxiety (β = −0.55, p < 0.001). FNE partially mediated this relationship, accounting for about half of the total effect. Furthermore, perceived social support weakened the association between FNE and social anxiety under high-support conditions (moderated effect: β = −0.14, p < 0.01).ConclusionThese findings suggest the potential value of integrative intervention strategies that promote self-identity, reduce fear of negative evaluation, and enhance perceived social support to mitigate social anxiety in college populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ccd3e015f10344b386974bf00b105b3d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ccd3e015f10344b386974bf00b105b3d2025-08-20T03:09:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.16224311622431Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation modelShuqi GuoJiazhong YangShicong ZhangDongzhuo XueMingxu LiuBackgroundSocial anxiety is a prevalent and impairing condition among college students, often interfering with academic performance, emotional wellbeing, and social functioning.ObjectiveThis study aimed to test a moderated mediation model in which self-identity predicts social anxiety, with fear of negative evaluation (FNE) serving as a mediator and perceived social support acting as a moderator in the latter part of the pathway.MethodsA total of 328 college students (Mage = 19.48, SD = 1.02; 43.29% male) completed standardized self-report measures of self-identity, FNE, social anxiety, and perceived social support. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the proposed model.ResultsSelf-identity significantly negatively predicted social anxiety (β = −0.55, p < 0.001). FNE partially mediated this relationship, accounting for about half of the total effect. Furthermore, perceived social support weakened the association between FNE and social anxiety under high-support conditions (moderated effect: β = −0.14, p < 0.01).ConclusionThese findings suggest the potential value of integrative intervention strategies that promote self-identity, reduce fear of negative evaluation, and enhance perceived social support to mitigate social anxiety in college populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1622431/fullsocial anxietyself-identitynegative evaluationssocial supportcollege students |
| spellingShingle | Shuqi Guo Jiazhong Yang Shicong Zhang Dongzhuo Xue Mingxu Liu Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model Frontiers in Psychology social anxiety self-identity negative evaluations social support college students |
| title | Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model |
| title_full | Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model |
| title_fullStr | Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model |
| title_short | Impact of self-identity on social anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model |
| title_sort | impact of self identity on social anxiety among college students a moderated mediation model |
| topic | social anxiety self-identity negative evaluations social support college students |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1622431/full |
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