The double-edged sword effect of self-focused attention on social interaction abilities: The parallel mediating roles of perceived social support and fear of negative evaluation

Xiaoyu Xu¹, Hao Fang^2,*
1 College of Advanced Agriculture, Zhejiang Agricultural Business College, Shaoxing, China
2 Office of Asset Management, Zhejiang Agricultural Business College, Shaoxing, China
* Corresponding Author: Hao Fang. Email: email

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.078684

Received 06 January 2026; Accepted 03 June 2026; Published online 24 July 2026

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Abstract

The present research investigated how perceived social support and fear of negative evaluation serve as parallel mediators in the association between self-focused attention and social interaction abilities. Data were collected from 524 Chinese university students (mean age = 19.40 years, SD = 1.30), who completed the following instruments: the Self-Focused Attention Questionnaire, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire. According to regression analyses, self-focused attention not only exhibited a direct link with social interaction abilities but also showed a positive indirect pathway via perceived social support and a negative indirect pathway via fear of negative evaluation. The contrasting indirect routes are consistent with a dual-pathway framework for self-focused attention. Practically, these findings indicate that intervention efforts ought to cultivate constructive forms of self-focused attention, enhance perceived social support, and diminish apprehension regarding negative appraisal. In doing so, they may facilitate the development of better social interaction abilities among students.