Investigation of social anxiety in university students: What is the role of interpersonal cognitive distortions, rejection sensitivity and self-compassion?

In this study, the aim was to examine the predictive effect of rejection sensitivity, interpersonal cognitive distortions, and self-compassion variables on the level of social anxiety. Another question addressed in the study was the comparison of the level of social anxieties between first-year/preparatory students and final-year students. For this purpose, university students aged between 18 and 25 (M = 20.88, SD = 2.08) participated in the research. Among the participants, 67.5% (241 individuals) were female students, and 32.5% (116 individuals) were male students. The data for the research were obtained using the Demographic Information Form, Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale, Rejection Sensitivity Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, and Interaction Anxiety Scale. The examination of the predictive effects of the variables on the level of social anxiety was conducted using multiple regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis. The examination of the level of social anxieties of preparatory/first-year students and final-year students was conducted using ANCOVA analysis. As a result of multiple regression analysis, it was observed that the variables of self-compassion and rejection sensitivity predicted social anxiety. According to the result of the stepwise regression analysis, it was observed that the sub-dimensions of self-criticism, rejection sensitivity related to friends, and avoidance of intimacy predicted the level of social anxiety. After conducting the ANCOVA analysis, it was found that the level of social anxieties of preparatory/first-year students were higher than those of final-year students. These findings were compared and analyzed with other findings in the literature.