The Relationship Between Adult Attachment And Social Anxiety Of College Students: The Multiple Mediating Roles

Objective: College students are the main group affected by social anxiety.Based on attachment theory and cognitive theory of social anxiety,this study explored the mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation(FNE),perceived social support(PSS),and intolerance of uncertainty(IU)on adult attachment and social anxiety among college students.Methods: this study used Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory,Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale,Perceived Social Support Scale,Intolerance Of Uncertainty Scale and the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale to investigate 1442 college students through online questionnaires.Results :(1)The attachment avoidance,FNE,PSS and social anxiety of female college students were significantly higher than those of male college students;(2)There were significant positive correlations between attachment anxiety,attachment avoidance,FNE,IU and social anxiety,and significant negative correlations between PSS and other variables;(3)After controlling for gender,grade,attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance,the direct prediction effect of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on social anxiety was significant,the separate mediations of FNE and IU was significant,and the serial mediation of FNE and IU was significant.(4)controlling for gender,grade,attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance,the direct prediction effect of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on social anxiety was significant,the separate mediations of PSS and IU was significant,the serial mediation of PSS and IU wasn’t significant,so PSS and IU play a parallel mediation role.Conclusion :(1)Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance can directly affect social anxiety;(2)Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance affect the IU through FNE,and then affect social anxiety;(3)Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance can affect social anxiety not only through PSS,but also through IU.