Interpersonal sensitivity and social avoidance and distress in female college students: Mediating role of self-inconsistency and moderating role of self-consciousness

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and college students’ social avoidance and distress. Our sample consisted of 544 Chinese female undergraduate college students selected through cluster sampling (mean age = 19.3 years, SD = 1.43 years). The students completed the Symptom Check-List-90 (SCL-90), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), Self-Consistency and Congruence Scale (SCCS), and Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS). The results showed that higher interpersonal sensitivity predicted higher social avoidance and distress. Self-inconsistency scores played a mediating role in the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and social avoidance and distress. Specifically, when self-inconstancy scores were high, interpersonal sensitivity was high, and social avoidance and distress was high. Moreover, self-consciousness moderated the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and social avoidance and distress. Specifically, when self-consciousness scores were high, self-inconsistency was low, and social avoidance and distress was low. Consistent with self-consciousness theory, we conclude from these findings that interpersonal sensitivity effects on social avoidance and distress behaviours of college students would depend on their levels of self-inconsistency and self-consciousness.