Cognitive Risk Factors of Social Anxiety

This study aimed to examine a model of cognitive risk factors, which were Fear of Negative Evaluation, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Shame in predicting social anxiety. Furthermore, this study also aimed to investigate any possible interactions among those factors in predicting social anxiety. Of 112 participants, nearly one half of whom were university students, completed a series of online questionnaires. Hierarchical regression via SPSS version 21.0 to examine the relative contribution of IU and interaction analyses using PROCESS macro for SPSS to investigate any possible interactions were performed. IU and FNE each consistently predicted social anxiety whilst shame unexpectedly did not. An interaction between IU and FNE was detected. These findings extend our understanding of the critical role of FNE and IU in predicting social anxiety and interestingly, FNE and IU strengthen each other in predicting social.