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The Relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Social Anxiety Disorder in Students: The Mediating Role of Body Image Concern
Fereshteh Rezazadeh Khalkhali1 , Seyed Abolghasem Mehrinejad *2 , Roshanak Khodabakhsh Pirkalani3
1- M.A. of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
2- Professo Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran , a.meehrinejad@alzahra.ac.ir
3- Professo Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (1593 Views)
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders that, by limiting the abilities of those suffering from it, creates various problems in social situations and performance related to it. The present study was conducted to predict SAD based on primary maladaptive schemas, with body image concerns serving as a mediator in college students. This research method employed a descriptive approach, and the research design was correlational. The sample under investigation consisted of 302 students studying at Tehran universities in 2020-2021, selected using convenience sampling. Social anxiety (SPIN, Connor et al., 1979), Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ, Young and Brown, 2003), and Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI, Littleton et al., 2005) were used to collect information. SPSS-24 and AMOS software were used for data analysis. The results showed that incompatible schemas have a positive and significant effect on body image concern (β=0.65) and SAD (β=0.48); Body image concern has a positive and significant effect on SAD (β=0.43) (P<0.05); The results of the bootstrap test showed that incompatible schemas have an important indirect effect on SAD (β=0.28) with the mediating role of body image concern. It can be said that body image concern has a mediating role between these two variables. The results showed that the total effect of incompatible schemas on body image concern was (β=0.77) (P<0.05). These findings highlight the importance of identifying and treating maladaptive schemas in reducing social anxiety, and they introduce body image concern as a significant factor in the development and reinforcement of social anxiety. Therefore, paying attention to these factors can be beneficial in designing effective intervention and treatment programs for reducing social anxiety in students.
Article number: 2
Keywords: Social Anxiety Disorder, Body Image Concern, Early Maladaptive Schemas, Students
     
Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2024/04/11 | Revised: 2025/07/23 | Accepted: 2025/08/31 | ePublished ahead of print: 2025/10/5 | Published: 2026/01/16
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