Perceived Parental Psychological Control and Social Anxiety Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Behavioral Inhibition

Objective: Due to the widespread prevalence of social anxiety and its considerable consequences, research in this area is imperative. The present study was conducted to examine the perceived parental psychological control (PPPC) and its relationship with social anxiety symptoms (SAS) with behavioral inhibition (BI), serving as a mediating factor among female university students in Tehran City, Iran. Methods: The research sample includes ۳۰۰ Iranian female university students aged ۱۸ to ۲۵ selected through convenience sampling from April to August ۲۰۲۳. The data were collected by the dependent and achievement-oriented psychological control scales, the social phobia inventory, and the behavioral activation/inhibition scale. The obtained data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation and path analysis in SPSS-۲۶ and AMOS-۲۴. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between PPPC and SAS (P≤۰.۰۱), as well as BI (P≤۰.۰۱). The path analysis revealed that BI mediates between PPPC and SAS (P≤۰.۰۱). Conclusions: Findings show that PPPC is related to SAS, and BI plays a mediating role that can partially increase social anxiety in this relationship.

کلیدواژه ها:

Social anxiety ، Parental psychological control ، Behavioral inhibition ، Female students