Personality Traits and Social Anxiety in Fear of Negative Evaluation

What is it about?

This study examines the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social interaction anxiety, mediated by HEXACO personality traits in a military cadet sample. The results show that fear of negative evaluation has a positive association with social interaction anxiety and negative associations with extraversion, conscientiousness, and altruism. The relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social interaction anxiety is fully mediated by extraversion, conscientiousness, and altruism. Social boldness, liveliness, and organization also play a role in the relationship. The study implies that understanding and addressing individual personality traits can help cultivate desirable behaviors in disciplined and rigid social environments, such as military organizations.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This research is important because it helps us understand the role of personality traits in mediating the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social interaction anxiety, particularly in a social environment characterized by discipline, uniformity, and rigor, such as a military academy. Key Takeaways: 1. Fear of negative evaluation has a positive association with social interaction anxiety and a negative association with extraversion, conscientiousness, and altruism. 2. The relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social interaction anxiety was fully mediated by the serial mediation pathway via extraversion, conscientiousness, and altruism. 3. The relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social interaction anxiety was fully mediated by the serial mediation pathway via social boldness, liveliness, and organization, with altruism moderating the relationship between liveliness, organization, and social interaction anxiety. 4. Extraversion, social boldness, and liveliness play a significant role in helping individuals overcome fear of negative evaluation and reduce social interaction anxiety. 5. Understanding the role of personality traits in mediating the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social interaction anxiety can contribute to identifying ways to stimulate desirable behaviors in military organizations, improving the educational approaches, and updating the training methods.