The Relationship Among Self-Efficacy, Negative Self-Referent Cognitions, and Social Anxiety in Children: A Multiple Mediator Model

Evidence suggests that general self-efficacy, an individual's beliefs about his global abilities, and social self-efficacy, an individual's beliefs in his ability to navigate social situations, are strongly connected to levels of social anxiety. Negative self-statements, also known as negative self-referent cognitions, have also been linked with levels of social anxiety. Although self-efficacy and negative self-statements have been shown to be important variables in the phenomenology and maintenance of social anxiety in children, they have yet to be examined in conjunction with one another. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between negative self-referent cognitions and self-efficacy and to examine both general self-efficacy and social self-efficacy as mediator variables in the relationship between negative self-statements and social anxiety. Results were based on a sample of 126 children ages 11 to 14 years. A significant association between negative self-statements and both general self-efficacy and social self-efficacy was established. Results also indicated that general self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between negative self-statements and social anxiety; however, contrary to hypotheses, social self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between negative self-statements and social anxiety. Implications and future recommendations are discussed.

► Negative self-statements, general and social self-efficacy, and social anxiety are examined. ► A relationship between negative self-statements and self-efficacy was established. ► A multiple mediator model was significant. ► General self-efficacy mediated the relationship between negative self-statements and social anxiety. ► Social self-efficacy was not a significant mediator in the model.