Influence of looming cognitive style and fear of negative evaluation on anxiety in college students

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of looming cognitive style and negative evaluation on anxiety in college students. Methods A total of 300 college students were assessed with looming maladaptive style questionnaire(LMSQ), Beck anxiety inventory(BAI) and fear of negative evaluation scale(FNE). Results (1)There was significant gender difference in fear of negative evaluation in college students(90.16±11.69 vs 97.63±11.69, t=-2.770, P 0.05; 29.82±7.89 vs 28.84±7.22, t=0.813, P>0.05). (2)LCS were positively correlated with fear of negative evaluation and anxiety(P<0.01). (3) Looming cognitive style could forecast anxiety in college students (β=0.257). Looming cognitive style and fear of negative evaluation could forecast anxiety in college students together (β1=0.137, β2=0.247). (4)The meditation effects of fear of negative evaluation in total effect were 0.468. Conclusion Looming cognitive style and fear of negative evaluation are important factors influencing the anxiety of college students, fear of negative evaluation plays an important mediation role between looming cognitive style and anxiety of college students. Key words: Looming cognitive style; Fear of negative evaluation; College students; Anxiety