Background: The increasing immersion in digital environments has heightened concerns about psychological factors influencing online self-presentation (OSP), especially among young adults. This study examines the relationship between fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and OSP, with Social Anxiety (SA) as a potential mediator, within a collectivist cultural context. Method: A cross-sectional design with convenience sampling was employed, involving 200 participants (131 men, 69 women) with age ranged of 16 to 32 years (M = 24.25, SD = 2.85), recruited from educational institutions and social media platforms across Pakistan. Four standardized measures were used, including the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE-S), the Social Anxiety Interaction Scale (SAIS), and the Presentation of Online Self Scale (POSS). Results: The results indicated a significant positive association between FNE and OSP. Further the results demonstrated that SA significantly and partially mediated this relationship (β = −0.19, SE = 0.06, 95% CI −0.33, −0.07). These findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of FNE tend to experience greater social anxiety, which in turn contributes to more controlled, deliberate, and strategic online self-presentation behaviors. Conclusions: The findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of FNE are more likely to experience social anxiety, which subsequently contributes to more strategic and controlled online self-presentation. The study highlights the cognitive-affective pathways involved in digital identity construction in collectivist cultures. Interventions targeting FNE and SA may promote healthier online behaviors among young adults.
Majeed et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: