Title
Cognitive appraisal mediating relationship between social anxiety and internet communication in adolescents
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Personality and Individual Differences
Publication Date
1-1-2012
Volume
52
Issue
1
First Page
78
Last Page
83
Publisher
Pergamon Press
Keywords
Adolescents, Computer-Mediated Communication, Social Anxiety
Abstract
Research suggests that people with high social anxiety trait may be more inclined to interact through computer-mediated communication (CMC). The psychological underpinnings of this inclination however remained unclear. The present research thus examines if cognitive appraisal bias (i.e. heighten estimation of social risk and deflated self-efficacy) would mediate the relationship between social anxiety and one's perception of CMC attributes, contributing to a differential pattern of responses in CMC use. Four hundred and ten adolescents aged 12-18. years completed a set of self-reported measures tapping social anxiety trait, cognitive appraisals, perception of CMC attributes, and pattern of CMC social responses. Structural equation modeling lent support to the mediating role of the cognitive appraisal factors. Those with higher social anxiety trait would attach higher self-relevance to the CMC attributes, and engage in a more socially-involved pattern of interpersonal responses in CMC. Implications of these findings are discussed.
DOI
10.1016/j.paid.2011.09.001
Print ISSN
01918869
E-ISSN
18733549
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Young, C. M. Y., & Lo, B. C. Y. (2012). Cognitive appraisal mediating relationship between social anxiety and internet communication in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 52(1), 78-83. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.09.001
