Lower family socioeconomic status was associated with increased social anxiety in emerging adults, a relationship mediated by lower self-esteem and enhanced fear of negative evaluation.
Cross-Sectional (n=717)
Yes
Does family socioeconomic status affect social anxiety through self-esteem and fear of negative evaluation in Chinese emerging adults?
In Chinese emerging adults, lower family socioeconomic status increases social anxiety through a mediated pathway involving lower self-esteem and higher fear of negative evaluation.
AIMS: The social causation hypothesis suggests that the stress in connection with a depressing social position results in the development of mental disorders. This study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying the link between family socioeconomic status (SES) and social anxiety in Chinese emerging adults. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was given to a representative sample (N = 717) of undergraduate students (17-23 years old) at three universities in China. Correlational and structural equation modeling analyses were employed to test the hypothesized three-path effect of self-esteem and fear of negative evaluation (FNE) as mediators between family SES and social anxiety. RESULTS: Findings suggest the following: (1) the emerging adults belonging to families with low SES are at an increased risk of social anxiety, and (2) lower family SES caused lower self-esteem, which, in turn, serves to enhance the levels of FNE, thereby increasing social anxiety. CONCLUSION: In addressing the prevention and treatment of social anxiety, we conclude that preventive efforts toward improving self-esteem may help reduce social anxiety in individuals with low family SES.
Cheng et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Social anxiety (n=717). Family socioeconomic status was evaluated on Social anxiety. Lower family socioeconomic status was associated with increased social anxiety in emerging adults, a relationship mediated by lower self-esteem and enhanced fear of negative evaluation.