Social anxiety and problematic social network site use: The sequential mediating role of self-esteem and self-concept clarity

This study explored the relationship between social anxiety and problematic social network sites use and the mediating role of self-esteem and self-concept clarity. A total of 811 college students (female= 58.2%; mean age= 19.18 years, SD = 1.12 years) completed the Interaction Anxiety Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Concept Clarity Scale, and Problematic Social Network Sites Use Scale. Latent variable structural equation modelling analysis indicated, not only directly but also indirectly through self-esteem and self-concept clarity, that social anxiety was associated with problematic use of social network sites. Self-esteem and self-concept clarity mediated the relationship between social anxiety and problematic social network sites use, respectively. Moreover, self-esteem and self-concept clarity played a sequential mediating role between social anxiety and problematic social network sites use. These findings suggest a need to reduce social anxiety among college students through enhancing their self-esteem and self-concept clarity. Such interventions would decrease their problematic use of social network sites.