The Mediating Role of Self-Kindness in The Relationship Between Fear of Negative Evaluation and Social Phobia of Medical Students

Mehdi Shomali  Ahmadabadi; Mohsen  Zabihi; Ali  Khodarahmi; Atefeh Barkhordari Ahmadabadi

doi:10.18502/jzms.v7i1.17720

Mehdi Shomali Ahmadabadi PhD in Psychology, Education Department, Ardakan, Yazd, Iran
Mohsen Zabihi Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Ali Khodarahmi Pharmacy Student, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Atefeh Barkhordari Ahmadabadi MSc Student in Clinical Psychology, Azad University, Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Isfahan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jzms.v7i1.17720

Keywords: Self-kindness; Fear of negative evaluation; Social phobia; Students

Abstract

Background: Social phobia is one of the psychological problems that is greatly affected by cognitive and behavioral performance and can considerably reduce a person's performance. This research was conducted to mediate the role of self-kindness in the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social phobia of medical students.

Methods: This study utilized structural equation modeling to conduct correlational research. The study's statistical population included all doctoral students of medical sciences in Yazd during the academic year 2021-2022. The sample size of 250 people was determined, and sampling was done by voluntary sampling method. The research tools included the social phobia scale, fear of negative evaluation, and the short form of the self-kindness scale, which was published online. Finally, the data of 227 students were analyzed by Pearson correlation and structural equation model.

Results: The results showed that the direct effect of fear of negative evaluation on social phobia (β = 0.353; p value = 0.001), the direct impact of self-kindness on social phobia (β = 0.230; p value = 0.037), and the direct effect of fear of negative evaluation on self-kindness (β = 0.410; p value = 0.001) was significant. Also, the bootstrap results showed that the indirect impact of fear of negative evaluation on social anxiety through self-kindness (β = 0.094; p value = 0.019) was also significant.

Conclusion: Strengthening self-kindness can reduce the fear of negative evaluation and improve students' social phobia.