The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion

BackgroundTo investigate the association between facial negative physical self, social anxiety, rumination, and self-compassion among college students in western China.MethodsA questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey of 1, 178 students from a university in western China through convenienc...

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Main Authors: Yuxian Yan, Xinyu Zhou, Jinhui Zhou, Yin Chen, Yan Zhang, Xin Zhou, Jiaming Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1450174/full
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author Yuxian Yan
Xinyu Zhou
Jinhui Zhou
Yin Chen
Yan Zhang
Xin Zhou
Jiaming Luo
author_facet Yuxian Yan
Xinyu Zhou
Jinhui Zhou
Yin Chen
Yan Zhang
Xin Zhou
Jiaming Luo
author_sort Yuxian Yan
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundTo investigate the association between facial negative physical self, social anxiety, rumination, and self-compassion among college students in western China.MethodsA questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey of 1, 178 students from a university in western China through convenience sampling using the Self-Compassion Scale, the Ruminative Response Scale, the Negative Physical Self Scale-facial appearance sub-scale and the Interaction Anxiousness Scale.ResultsIn the mediation model, the total predictive effect of facial negative physical self on social anxiety was significant (B = 0.46, t = 17.66, p < 0.01), and the mediating effect of facial negative physical self on social anxiety accounted for 48. 1% of the total effect; self-compassion moderated the effect of rumination on social anxiety (B = –0.06, t = 3.00, p < 0.01).ConclusionFacial negative physical self affects the level of social anxiety of college students through rumination, and self-compassion regulates the effect of rumination on social anxiety. Students should be encouraged to increase their level of self-compassion or be provided with self-compassion intervention training, which can help reduce social anxiety.
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Psychology
spelling doaj-art-fd52830e62ef45e3a3cec0241aa415e02025-08-20T02:35:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14501741450174The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassionYuxian YanXinyu ZhouJinhui ZhouYin ChenYan ZhangXin ZhouJiaming LuoBackgroundTo investigate the association between facial negative physical self, social anxiety, rumination, and self-compassion among college students in western China.MethodsA questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey of 1, 178 students from a university in western China through convenience sampling using the Self-Compassion Scale, the Ruminative Response Scale, the Negative Physical Self Scale-facial appearance sub-scale and the Interaction Anxiousness Scale.ResultsIn the mediation model, the total predictive effect of facial negative physical self on social anxiety was significant (B = 0.46, t = 17.66, p < 0.01), and the mediating effect of facial negative physical self on social anxiety accounted for 48. 1% of the total effect; self-compassion moderated the effect of rumination on social anxiety (B = –0.06, t = 3.00, p < 0.01).ConclusionFacial negative physical self affects the level of social anxiety of college students through rumination, and self-compassion regulates the effect of rumination on social anxiety. Students should be encouraged to increase their level of self-compassion or be provided with self-compassion intervention training, which can help reduce social anxiety.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1450174/fullruminationself-compassionsocial anxietymoderated mediation modelfacial negative physical self
spellingShingle Yuxian Yan
Xinyu Zhou
Jinhui Zhou
Yin Chen
Yan Zhang
Xin Zhou
Jiaming Luo
The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion
Frontiers in Psychology
rumination
self-compassion
social anxiety
moderated mediation model
facial negative physical self
title The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion
title_full The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion
title_fullStr The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion
title_short The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion
title_sort relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students the role of rumination and self compassion
topic rumination
self-compassion
social anxiety
moderated mediation model
facial negative physical self
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1450174/full
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