The Impact of Social Exclusion on Social Anxiety: The Chain Mediating Role of Self-focused Attention and Self Esteem

Objective: To explore and study the mediating role of self-concern and self-esteem in social exclusion and social anxiety among college students. Methods: A survey of 400 college students was conducted using the Social Exclusion Questionnaire for Undergraduate, the Self-Focused Attention Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Interaction Anxiousness Scale. Results: 1) Social exclusion was significantly positively correlated with self-focused attention and social anxiety, and negatively correlated with self-esteem; self-focused attention was significantly negatively correlated with self-esteem, and positively correlated with social anxiety; self-esteem was significantly negatively correlated with social anxiety. 2) Social exclusion can have a direct effect on social anxiety, or it can act on social anxiety through three mediating pathways: the mediating role of self-focused attention, the mediating role of self-esteem, and the chain mediating role of self-focused attention and self-esteem. Conclusion: College students' social exclusion not only directly predicts social anxiety, but also indirectly predicts social anxiety through the mediating roles of self-focused attention and self-esteem, as well as the chain mediating role of self-focused attention and self-esteem.