The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology Vol. 16; p. 1450174
• Main Authors: Yan, Yuxian, Zhou, Xinyu, Zhou, Jinhui, Chen, Yin, Zhang, Yan, Zhou, Xin, Luo, Jiaming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 03.06.2025
• Subjects: facial negative physical self; moderated mediation model; Psychology; rumination; self-compassion; social anxiety; moderated mediation model; rumination; social anxiety; self-compassion; facial negative physical self
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1450174

To investigate the association between facial negative physical self, social anxiety, rumination, and self-compassion among college students in western China. A questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey of 1, 178 students from a university in western China through convenience sampling using the Self-Compassion Scale, the Ruminative Response Scale, the Negative Physical Self Scale-facial appearance sub-scale and the Interaction Anxiousness Scale. In the mediation model, the total predictive effect of facial negative physical self on social anxiety was significant (  = 0.46,  = 17.66,  < 0.01), and the mediating effect of facial negative physical self on social anxiety accounted for 48. 1% of the total effect; self-compassion moderated the effect of rumination on social anxiety (  = -0.06,  = 3.00,  < 0.01). Facial negative physical self affects the level of social anxiety of college students through rumination, and self-compassion regulates the effect of rumination on social anxiety. Students should be encouraged to increase their level of self-compassion or be provided with self-compassion intervention training, which can help reduce social anxiety.