The Mediational Role of Emotion Control in Explaining the Causal Relationship between Parent and Peer Attachment with Social Anxiety in Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of emotion control in the relationship between parent and peer attachment with adolescents' social anxiety. The current investigation employed a descriptive- correlationalmethodology that was implemented with regard to its objectives. The statistical population consisted of 236,000 secondary school adolescents in Tehranwho were studying in the 2020-21 academic year. The study samples were composed of 568 students (303 girls and 265 boys) who were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling procedure. Each student completed the inventory of parent and peer attachment (IPPA), emotion control questionnaire (ECQ2), and social phobia inventory (SPIN). Ultimately, the data was analyzed using AMOS 24 software and a structural equation modeling procedure. Results indicated there was a negative and significant relationship (P<0.01) between parent and peer attachment with social anxiety in adolescents. Additionally, the relationship between emotion control and social anxiety was positive and significant (P <0.01), and adolescents’ emotion control was significantly mediated by parent and peer attachment with respect to social anxiety (P <0.01). The results of this investigation underscore the significance of supportive relationships with parents and peers as sources of encouragement that can significantly mitigate social anxiety among adolescents.

Keywords

• emotion control
• parent attachment
• peer attachment
• social anxiety