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Neuroticism and positive coping style as mediators of the association between childhood psychological maltreatment and social anxiety

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Abstract

Social anxiety can be harmful to an individual’s quality of life and well-being. Individuals with social anxiety usually exhibit avoidance behaviors and experience distress in social situations. Previous studies have indicated that the formation of social anxiety may be related to adverse childhood experiences, such as childhood psychological maltreatment (CPM). Based on previous research, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between CPM and social anxiety, considering neuroticism and positive coping style as mediating mechanisms in this relationship. We hypothesized that college students’ (N = 717; Mage = 19.93, SD = 1.35, aged between 18 and 22 years, 387 males) CPM will be associated with higher level of neuroticism and lower level of positive coping style, which will contribute to increased social avoidance and distress. Results showed that neuroticism and positive coping style serially mediated the relationship between CPM and social anxiety. The total mediating effect was 91.57%. The results of the present study highlight the impact of CPM on neuroticism and positive coping styles, and these factors play a prominent role in the development of social anxiety among college students. Intervention and prevention suggestions aimed at reducing the effect of CPM on social anxiety are also discussed.

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Data Availability

The data during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This research was supported by Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Sciences Research Youth Foundation (20YJC190013); Zhejiang Provincial Educational Science Planning Foundation (2020SCG087); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Provincial Universities of Zhejiang (SJWY2020004) awarded to Fang Liu, and supported by the Scientific Research Fund Project of Education Department of Liaoning Province (2020LNQN08); Liaoning Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science Planning Foundation (L20ASH005) awarded to Liang Chen.

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  1. Department and Institute of Psychology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang Province, China

    Fang Liu & Nianxin Wang

  2. School of Marxism, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan, 114051, Liaoning Province, China

    Liang Chen

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  1. Fang Liu
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All authors contributed to the paper. The study conception and design were performed by Fang Liu and Liang Chen. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Nianxin Wang, and Liang Chen. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Fang Liu. And all authors commented on the manuscript.

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Liu, F., Wang, N. & Chen, L. Neuroticism and positive coping style as mediators of the association between childhood psychological maltreatment and social anxiety. Curr Psychol 42, 10935–10944 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02360-9

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