Effects of Social Anxiety and Avoidance Behavior on Positive and Negative affect in University Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Self-Compassion

Objectives The current study examined the moderating effect of self-compassion on the relationship between social anxiety, avoidance behavior, and positive and negative affect. Methods A total of 445 undergraduate and graduate students completed the self-report questionnaires including Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), Korean-Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (K-PANAS), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), Subtle Avoidance Frequency Examination (SAFE), Korean version of the Self-Compassion Scale (K-SCS). The date was analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and SPSS PROCESS Macro. Results The current study yielded three noteworthy results. First, there were significant correlations among social anxiety, social avoidance, subtle avoidance, self-compassion, negative affect, and positive affect. Second, Social avoidance was completed mediated the relationship between social anxiety and positive affect. Subtle avoidance was partially mediated their relationships. Third, the mediating effects of social avoidance and subtle avoidance in relationship between social anxiety and positive affect were moderate by self-compassion. Conclusions The results suggest that self-compassion may act as a protective factor for positive emotional experiences of people with high social anxiety.