The mediating role of xenophobia in the relationship between desired social distance towards refugees and social anxiety

The main aim of the study was to investigate the mediating role of xenophobia in the relationship between desired social distance towards refugees and social anxiety. In this context, the independent variable was desired social distance towards refugees, the dependent variable was social anxiety, and xenophobia was tested as the mediating variable. The research was conducted among Turkish citizens aged between 18-65 living in Turkey between 2023-2024, and data were collected using Google Forms. A total of 458 completed surveys were included in the analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 27 software. Process Macro 4.2 program was utilized for the mediation analysis. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to determine the relationships between the scales, while Independent Samples T-test and ANOVA tests were used to understand differences based on demographic variables. Process Macro 4.2 program was used for the mediation analysis. The results of the study revealed that desired social distance towards refugees had a negative effect on both social anxiety and xenophobia. A positive relationship was found between social anxiety and xenophobia. It was concluded that xenophobia played a mediating role in the relationship between desired social distance towards refugees and social anxiety.