PERFECTIONISM AND NEGATIVE THINKING AS PREDICTORS OF SOCIAL ANXIETY IN ADULTS: ROLE OF COGNITIVE REAPPRAISAL

Abstract

This study aims to assess the impact of perfectionism and negative thinking on social anxiety adults, with cognitive reappraisal as a potential mediating factor. A sample of 300 adults with an age range of 18-30 years old from the general population participated, and completed the series of self-reporting measures including Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale, Preservative Thinking Questionnaire, Emotional Regulation Questionnaire and Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation-Revised alongside a specific screening questionnaire for social anxiety, Social Phobic Screener. Correlational and regression analysis was conducted using SPSS, and mediation analysis was tested via Process Macro (Model 4). Results of the findings suggested that perfectionism and negative thinking were significantly and positively associated with social anxiety. However, cognitive reappraisal did not mediate these relationships. The findings indicated that while maladaptive thinking patterns like perfectionism and perseverative thinking play a substantial role in social anxiety, cognitive reappraisal may not independently buffer these effects. These results highlight the importance of targeting perfectionism and repetitive negative thinking directly in interventions for social anxiety. Further research is needed to explore other potential cognitive or emotional mediators that might better explain this relationship.