Abstract
This study explored the relationship between social anxiety and problematic social network sites use and the mediating role of self-esteem and self-concept clarity. A total of 811 college students (female= 58.2%; mean age= 19.18 years, SD = 1.12 years) completed the Interaction Anxiety Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Concept Clarity Scale, and Problematic Social Network Sites Use Scale. Latent variable structural equation modelling analysis indicated, not only directly but also indirectly through self-esteem and self-concept clarity, that social anxiety was associated with problematic use of social network sites. Self-esteem and self-concept clarity mediated the relationship between social anxiety and problematic social network sites use, respectively. Moreover, self-esteem and self-concept clarity played a sequential mediating role between social anxiety and problematic social network sites use. These findings suggest a need to reduce social anxiety among college students through enhancing their self-esteem and self-concept clarity. Such interventions would decrease their problematic use of social network sites.
Conflict of interest
The authors affirm that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Ethical approval
The procedures carried out in studies involving human participants adhered to the ethical standards set by the institutional and/or national research committee, in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its subsequent amendments, or similar ethical guidelines.
Data availability statement
The corresponding author can provide the supporting data for this study upon reasonable request.
Informed consent
All individual participants included in this study provided informed consent prior to their involvement.