The DOI matches its Crossref record; 30 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 8 of the 37 sources its claims cite were checked for support.
Self-Concept Clarity and Loneliness among College Students: The Chain-Mediating Effect of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure
Open accessAbstract
Self-concept clarity is considered a crucial indicator of mental health. Although several studies have examined the correlation between self-concept clarity and loneliness, few studies have investigated the underlying mechanism. Based on the evolutionary theory of loneliness and social penetration theory, this cross-sectional study focused on cognitive and behavioral factors in interpersonal communication situations, aiming to explore the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness as well as its internal mechanism. An online questionnaire survey comprised 1145 college students in China to assess their self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness. After controlling for demographic variables, the results showed that self-concept clarity was not only able to directly and negatively predict loneliness but also indirectly predict loneliness through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, as well as the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure. This study provides important implications for cognitive and behavioral intervention strategies to alleviate people’s loneliness and improve their mental health.
Overview
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This cross-sectional study of 1145 Chinese college students found that self-concept clarity negatively predicts loneliness, both directly and indirectly through fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, including a chain-mediating path from fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure. The findings suggest cognitive and behavioral intervention targets for reducing loneliness.
Key findings
- Self-concept clarity significantly negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.22, t = −9.37, p < 0.001) and fear of negative evaluation (β = −0.89, t = −30.48, p < 0.001), and significantly positively predicted self-disclosure (β = 0.14, t = 3.98, p < 0.001).
- Fear of negative evaluation significantly negatively predicted self-disclosure (β = −0.16, t = −6.05, p < 0.001) and positively predicted loneliness (β = 0.12, t = 6.98, p < 0.001); self-disclosure significantly negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.15, t = −7.47, p < 0.001).
- The total mediation effect accounted for approximately 40% of the total effect: fear of negative evaluation alone accounted for 29.8% (mediation effect = −0.111, SE = 0.018, 95% CI [−0.145, −0.075]), self-disclosure alone accounted for 5.5% (mediation effect = −0.020, SE = 0.007, 95% CI [−0.034, −0.009]), and the chain path accounted for 5.6% (mediation effect = −0.021, SE = 0.005, 95% CI [−0.032, −0.012]).
- Common method variance was assessed; the first common factor explained 31% of variance, below the 40% threshold, indicating no serious common method variance.
Methods
- Cross-sectional online questionnaire survey conducted September–November 2022 via Questionnaire Star, distributed to college student recruitment groups in Changchun, Jinan, Harbin, and other Chinese cities. Of 1300 completed responses, 1145 valid questionnaires were analyzed (validity rate 88%; M age = 21.46 years, SD = 1.95, range 18–26; 51.97% male, 48.03% female; 79.56% undergraduates, 20.44% postgraduates).
- Measures included the Self-Concept Clarity Scale (12 items; Cronbach’s α = 0.88), Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (8 positively scored items used; α = 0.95), Multidimensional Self-Disclosure Scale quantitative dimension (7 items; α = 0.74), and UCLA Loneliness Scale (20 items; α = 0.92).
- Analyses used SPSS 24.0 for descriptive and correlation analyses and Hayes’ PROCESS v3.3 Model 6 for chain-mediation testing with 5000 bootstrap samples and 95% confidence intervals, controlling for gender, only-child status, and place of origin.
Limitations
- The authors state that generalizability may be limited because the study is based on a specific sample of college students; future research should include more diverse populations.
- The authors state that the cross-sectional design prevents establishing causal relationships; longitudinal or experimental designs are recommended.
- The authors note potential limitations of self-report questionnaires, including response bias and subjective interpretation, and suggest multiple methods and integrated data collection. They also suggest future research on additional mediators such as social support and self-esteem, and on intervention effects. Evident from the text: recruitment through online subject groups in selected cities may further constrain representativeness, though this is not explicitly framed as a limitation by the authors.
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Verification
Claims the paper makes
8 of 37 cited sources checked · 2 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured
- Premisecitation
There is a strong correlation between fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure.
“There is a strong correlation between fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked- cites [33] Liu, 2006, Commentary on Impression Management and Its Relative Research, Adv. Psychol. Sci.
- cites [34] Leary, 2011, Personality and Persona: Personality Processes in Self-Presentation, J. Personal. source
- cites [35] Proudfoot, 2018, Saving face on Facebook: Privacy concerns, social benefits, and impression management, Behav. Inform. Technol. source
Section 4.1 measures willingness to disclose positive information, and Table 2 reports correlations involving disclosure propensity, but neither identifies fear of negative evaluation as a variable. Searches for “fear of negative evaluation” and related terms found no passage establishing the claimed strong correlation. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
- Premisecitation
Higher self-concept clarity can predict lower negative interpersonal interactions.
“longitudinal studies have shown that higher self-concept clarity can predict lower negative interpersonal interactions [11]”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked- cites [11] Becht, 2017, Clear Self, Better Relationships: Adolescents’ Self-Concept Clarity and Relationship Quality with Parents and Peers Across 5 Years, Child Dev. source
- Premisecitation
Fear of negative evaluation is influenced by self-concept clarity.
“Besides, fear of negative evaluation is influenced by self-concept clarity. Individuals with lower self-concept clarity tend to be more sensitive to negative evaluations and feedback in social situations [20].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked- cites [20] Ayduk, 2009, Rejection Sensitivity Moderates the Impact of Rejection on Self-Concept Clarity, Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull. source
The Abstract and General Discussion (pages unavailable) examine the opposite direction: rejection or conflict reduces self-concept clarity, particularly among people high in rejection sensitivity. Searches for fear of negative evaluation and for lower self-concept clarity predicting sensitivity to negative feedback found no passage addressing the claimed influence. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
- Premisecitation
Individuals with high fear of negative evaluation typically believe that others will evaluate them negatively, so they reduce or conceal further disclosure of self-relevant information to maintain their existing self-image.
“Individuals with high fear of negative evaluation typically believe that others will evaluate them negatively, so they reduce or conceal further disclosure of self-relevant information or conceal it in order to maintain their existing self-image [35].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked- cites [35] Proudfoot, 2018, Saving face on Facebook: Privacy concerns, social benefits, and impression management, Behav. Inform. Technol. source
Section 3.4 says people are motivated to maintain and project their identities. Section 2.1.2 says perceived privacy risks can inhibit self-disclosure. Neither section says that fear of negative evaluation leads people to conceal self-relevant information to preserve their self-image. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
- Premisecitation
College students with lower self-concept clarity scores are more likely to experience higher levels of depression and social anxiety.
“Additionally, research has shown that college students with lower self-concept clarity scores are more likely to experience higher levels of depression and social anxiety [30,44].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked- cites [30] Li, 2022, Self-Concept Clarity and Social Anxiety: Analysis of the Multiple Mediating Effects, Stud. Psychol. Behav.
- cites [44] Hong, 2022, Relationships among nursing students’ self-concept clarity, meaning in life, emotion regulation ability and depression: Testing a moderated mediation model, Front. Psychol. source
The Discussion section reports that nursing students with higher self-concept clarity had lower depression levels. The Introduction also describes a relationship with anxiety generally, but the paper does not establish a relationship with social anxiety specifically or report the depression finding for college students broadly. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
- Findingown data
Self-concept clarity was significantly positively correlated with self-disclosure.
“self-concept clarity exhibited a significant negative correlation with fear of negative evaluation and loneliness, and a significant positive correlation with self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Self-concept clarity significantly negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.22, t = −9.37, p < 0.001).
“self-concept clarity significantly negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.22, t = −9.37, p < 0.001)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The chain-mediation effect of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure was −0.021 (SE = 0.005, 95% CI [−0.032, −0.012]), accounting for 5.6% of the total effect.
“The third pathway was the chain-mediation effect of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure (mediation effect = −0.021, SE = 0.005, bootstrap 95% CI: [−0.032, −0.012]), which accounted for 5.6% of the total effect.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The causal ordering of self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness is as specified in the mediation model (i.e., self-concept clarity precedes and influences the others).
- Rests on an assumption: The mediation model includes all relevant confounders (no omitted variable bias).
- Findingown data
Fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure played significant mediating roles in the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness.
“fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure played significant mediating roles in the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The causal ordering of self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness is as specified in the mediation model (i.e., self-concept clarity precedes and influences the others).
- Rests on an assumption: The mediation model includes all relevant confounders (no omitted variable bias).
- Findingown data
The total mediation effect accounted for approximately 40% of the total effect.
“The total mediation effect accounted for approximately 40% of the total effect”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The causal ordering of self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness is as specified in the mediation model (i.e., self-concept clarity precedes and influences the others).
- Rests on an assumption: The mediation model includes all relevant confounders (no omitted variable bias).
- Findingown data
Self-concept clarity significantly negatively predicted fear of negative evaluation (β = −0.89, t = −30.48, p < 0.001).
“self-concept clarity significantly negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.22, t = −9.37, p < 0.001) and fear of negative evaluation (β = −0.89, t = −30.48, p < 0.001)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Self-concept clarity significantly and negatively predicts college students' loneliness.
“The study supported Hypothesis 1 by showing that self-concept clarity significantly and negatively predicts college students’ loneliness, which is consistent with previous research [8,9].”
- Also stated in: § 4.1. Effect of Self-Concept Clarity on Loneliness · plain
“Therefore, self-concept clarity serves as a negative predictor of loneliness, which is an indicator of social adaptation.”
- Also stated in: § 7. Conclusions · plain
“This cross-sectional study finds self-concept clarity not only directly predicts loneliness, but also indirectly through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, as well as the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Also stated in: § 4.1. Effect of Self-Concept Clarity on Loneliness · plain
- Findingown data
The independent mediation effect of fear of negative evaluation was −0.111 (SE = 0.018, 95% CI [−0.145, −0.075]), accounting for 29.8% of the total effect.
“The first pathway was the independent mediation effect of fear of negative evaluation (mediation effect = −0.111, SE = 0.018, bootstrap 95% CI: [−0.145, −0.075]), which accounted for 29.8% of the total effect.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The causal ordering of self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness is as specified in the mediation model (i.e., self-concept clarity precedes and influences the others).
- Rests on an assumption: The mediation model includes all relevant confounders (no omitted variable bias).
- Findingown data
Fear of negative evaluation was significantly negatively associated with self-disclosure.
“Fear of negative evaluation showed a significant positive association with loneliness and a significant negative association with self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Self-disclosure was significantly negatively correlated with loneliness.
“self-disclosure was significantly and negatively correlated to loneliness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Self-concept clarity was significantly negatively correlated with fear of negative evaluation.
“self-concept clarity exhibited a significant negative correlation with fear of negative evaluation and loneliness”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Fear of negative evaluation was significantly positively associated with loneliness.
“Fear of negative evaluation showed a significant positive association with loneliness and a significant negative association with self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Self-concept clarity was significantly negatively correlated with loneliness.
“self-concept clarity exhibited a significant negative correlation with fear of negative evaluation and loneliness”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The independent mediation effect of self-disclosure was −0.020 (SE = 0.007, 95% CI [−0.034, −0.009]), accounting for 5.5% of the total effect.
“The second pathway was the independent mediation effect of self-disclosure (mediation effect = −0.020, SE = 0.007, bootstrap 95% CI: [−0.034, −0.009]), which accounted for 5.5% of the total effect.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The causal ordering of self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness is as specified in the mediation model (i.e., self-concept clarity precedes and influences the others).
- Rests on an assumption: The mediation model includes all relevant confounders (no omitted variable bias).
- Findingown data
Self-disclosure mediates the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness.
“Furthermore, the study found that self-disclosure plays a mediating role between self-concept clarity and loneliness, which supports Hypothesis 3.”
- Also stated in: § 4.2. The Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure · plain
“Thus, self-disclosure acts as a mediating factor between self-concept clarity and loneliness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The observed associations reflect a causal process in which self-concept clarity influences loneliness through fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, rather than reverse causation or confounding.
- Also stated in: § 4.2. The Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure · plain
- Findingown data
Fear of negative evaluation mediates the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness.
“The present study found that fear of negative evaluation served as a mediator in the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness, supporting Hypothesis 2.”
- Also stated in: § 4.2. The Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure · plain
“Consequently, fear of negative evaluation mediates the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The observed associations reflect a causal process in which self-concept clarity influences loneliness through fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, rather than reverse causation or confounding.
- Also stated in: § 4.2. The Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure · plain
- Findingown data
Self-concept clarity had a significant positive predictive effect on self-disclosure (β = 0.14, t = 3.98, p < 0.001).
“while it had a significant positive predictive effect on self-disclosure (β = 0.14, t = 3.98, p < 0.001)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Fear of negative evaluation exhibited a significant negative predictive effect on self-disclosure (β = −0.16, t = −6.05, p < 0.001).
“fear of negative evaluation exhibited a significant negative predictive effect on self-disclosure (β = −0.16, t = −6.05, p < 0.001)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Fear of negative evaluation exhibited a positive predictive effect on loneliness (β = 0.12, t = 6.98, p < 0.001).
“and a positive predictive effect on loneliness (β = 0.12, t = 6.98, p < 0.001)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Self-disclosure significantly and negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.15, t = −7.47, p < 0.001).
“self-disclosure significantly and negatively predicted loneliness (β = −0.15, t = −7.47, p < 0.001)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingreasoning
Self-concept clarity affects loneliness through the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure.
“Finally, this study verifies Hypothesis 4 that self-concept clarity affects loneliness through the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure.”
- Also stated in: § 4.3. The Chain-Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure · plain
“Therefore, fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure play a chain-mediating role in the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness.”
- Also stated in: § 7. Conclusions · plain
“This cross-sectional study finds self-concept clarity not only directly predicts loneliness, but also indirectly through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, as well as the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The observed associations reflect a causal process in which self-concept clarity influences loneliness through fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, rather than reverse causation or confounding.
- Also stated in: § 4.3. The Chain-Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Disclosure · plain
- Study design and conductown data
Cronbach's alpha for the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale was 0.95.
“Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this scale was found to be 0.95.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Study design and conductown data
There was no serious common method variance in the current study.
“Therefore, there was no serious common method variance in the current study.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
People with low self-concept clarity tend to misinterpret social cues during interpersonal interactions, attributing negative or passive meanings to them.
“People with low self-concept clarity tend to misinterpret social cues during interpersonal interactions, attributing negative or passive meanings to them [21,22].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [21] Butzer, 2006, Relationships between the frequency of social comparisons and self-concept clarity, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety, and depression, Personal. Individ. Differ. source
- cites [22] Wu, 2020, The Influence of WeChat Moments Use on Undergraduates’Depression: The Effects of Negative Social Comparison and Self-concept Clarity, Psychol. Dev. Educ.
- Interpretationreasoning
People's fear of negative evaluation will limit the extent of their self-disclosure.
“It can be seen that people’s fear of negative evaluation will limit the extent of their self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Insufficient self-awareness can cause individuals to feel less confident in social situations and unable to form meaningful connections with others, ultimately increasing the risk of loneliness.
“Insufficient self-awareness can cause individuals to feel less confident in social situations and unable to form meaningful connections with others, ultimately increasing the risk of loneliness [13].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [13] Valkenburg, 2008, Adolescents’ Identity Experiments on the Internet: Consequences for Social Competence and Self-Concept Unity, Commun. Res. source
- Premisecitation
Research has shown a positive association between fear of negative evaluation and loneliness.
“Research has shown a positive association between fear of negative evaluation and loneliness. Individuals who fear negative judgments from their social environment may hesitate to initiate connections, ultimately leading to feelings of isolation over time [15,16].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [15] Liu, 2022, The roles of fear of negative evaluation and social anxiety in the relationship between self-compassion and loneliness: A serial mediation model, Curr. Psychol. source
- cites [16] Zou, 2016, The influence of self-esteem and fear of negative evaluation on loneliness in college freshmen with left-behind experience, Chin. J. Sch. Health
- Premisecitation
There is a significant negative correlation between self-concept clarity and social anxiety.
“there is a significant negative correlation between self-concept clarity and social anxiety. This means that individuals with low self-concept clarity tend to experience higher levels of social anxiety [30].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [30] Li, 2022, Self-Concept Clarity and Social Anxiety: Analysis of the Multiple Mediating Effects, Stud. Psychol. Behav.
- Premisecitation
Fear of negative evaluation can hinder individuals' motivation to establish meaningful relationships, thereby promoting experiences of loneliness.
“fear of negative evaluation, which is a negative perception of social situations, can hinder individuals’ motivation to establish meaningful relationships, thereby promoting experiences of loneliness [19].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [19] Qualter, 2015, Loneliness across the life span, Perspect. Psychol. Sci. source
- Premisecitation
Recent studies have indicated a negative association between self-concept clarity and levels of loneliness.
“Recent studies have indicated a negative association between self-concept clarity and levels of loneliness [8,9].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [8] Xu, 2017, True Self-Expression on Social Network Sites and Loneliness: Mediating of Self-Concept Clarity, Chin. J. Clin. Psychol.
- cites [9] Zhang, 2020, Relationship between Passive Use of Social Network Site and Loneliness and Its Chain Mediation, Chin. J. Clin. Psychol.
- Premisecitation
Individuals with low self-concept clarity are more sensitive to information about the external environment because they lack a stable and consistent self-concept.
“Individuals with low self-concept clarity are more sensitive to information about the external environment because they lack a stable and consistent self-concept [5].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [5] Campbell, 2003, The structure of the self-concept and its relation to psychological adjustment, J. Personal. source
- Interpretationreasoning
The study's findings may have limited generalizability because the sample is a specific sample of college students.
“First, it is important to note that this study may have limited generalizability, because it is based on a specific sample of college students.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Individuals with heightened fear of negative evaluation tend to be more sensitive to uncertain events in social settings and perceive them as threatening information.
“Individuals with a heightened fear of negative evaluation tend to be more sensitive to uncertain events in social settings and perceive them as threatening information [46].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [46] Peng, 2019, Fear of Negative Evaluation on Social Anxiety: Base On Cognitive Behavioral Model of Social Anxiety Disorder, Psychol. Dev. Educ.
- Premisecitation
Individuals with high negative evaluation fear are more likely to adopt avoidance and self-concealment coping styles when dealing with possible stressful social situations.
“Additionally, individuals with high negative evaluation fear are more likely to adopt avoidance and self-concealment coping styles when dealing with possible stressful social situations [31].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [31] Moscovitch, 2013, Self-portrayal concerns and their relation to safety behaviors and negative affect in social anxiety disorder, Behav. Res. Ther. source
- Premisecitation
Low self-concept clarity hinders the level of self-disclosure.
“Consistent with previous research, the internal consistency of one’s self-concept plays a crucial role in how individuals present themselves to their interpersonal partners, and low self-concept clarity hinders the level of self-disclosure [29].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [29] Tajmirriyahi, 2020, Self-concept clarity as a predictor of self-disclosure in romantic relationships, J. Soc. Personal. Relat. source
- Interpretationreasoning
Heightened sensitivity to negative evaluation may hinder motivation to establish meaningful connections with others, ultimately contributing to feelings of loneliness.
“This heightened sensitivity may hinder their motivation to establish meaningful connections with others, ultimately contributing to feelings of loneliness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Self-concept clarity is a protective factor for psychological adjustment.
“The current research enhances our understanding of the underlying mechanisms between self-concept clarity and loneliness and provides new empirical evidence that self-concept clarity is a protective factor for psychological adjustment.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The observed associations reflect a causal process in which self-concept clarity influences loneliness through fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, rather than reverse causation or confounding.
- Premisecitation
According to the evolutionary theory of loneliness, negative self-defeating perceptions are associated with the development of loneliness.
“According to the evolutionary theory of loneliness, negative self-defeating perceptions are associated with the development of loneliness [17].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [17] Cacioppo, 2018, Loneliness in the modern age: An evolutionary theory of loneliness (ETL), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology source
- Interpretationreasoning
This study reveals the mechanism of self-concept clarity on college students' loneliness from both cognitive (fear of negative evaluation) and behavioral (self-disclosure) perspectives.
“This study reveals the mechanism of self-concept clarity on college students’ loneliness from both cognitive (fear of negative evaluation) and behavioral (self-disclosure) perspectives.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The observed associations reflect a causal process in which self-concept clarity influences loneliness through fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, rather than reverse causation or confounding.
- Interpretationreasoning
Over time, fear of negative evaluation and reluctance to disclose personal information can hinder the establishment and development of meaningful interpersonal relationships, resulting in increased feelings of loneliness.
“Over time, fear of negative evaluation and reluctance to disclose personal information can hinder the establishment and development of meaningful interpersonal relationships, resulting in increased feelings of loneliness.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Study design and conductnone given
The cross-sectional design of this study hinders the establishment of causal relationships.
“The second limitation is that the use of a cross-sectional design in this study hinders the establishment of causal relationships.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Probably not a substantial claim. 17
- It may state two separate claims as one. 8
- The quote only partly states this claim. 1
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
PremisecitationThe improvement of self-concept is positively correlated with relationship maintenance motivations and behaviors.
“the improvement of self-concept is positively correlated with relationship maintenance motivations and behaviors [12].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked- cites [12] McIntyre, 2015, When “we” changes “me”: The two-dimensional model of relational self-change and relationship outcomes, J. Soc. Personal. Relat. source
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
PremisecitationPrevious empirical studies have demonstrated a significant negative association between self-concept clarity and depression and social anxiety.
“Previous empirical studies have also demonstrated a significant negative association between self-concept clarity and depression and social anxiety.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked- cites [30] Li, 2022, Self-Concept Clarity and Social Anxiety: Analysis of the Multiple Mediating Effects, Stud. Psychol. Behav.
- cites [44] Hong, 2022, Relationships among nursing students’ self-concept clarity, meaning in life, emotion regulation ability and depression: Testing a moderated mediation model, Front. Psychol. source
The Introduction (‘Self-concept clarity and depression’; page unavailable) reports that previous studies found a negative association with depression, and the paper’s Results find a significant negative association in nursing students. The Introduction also mentions lower anxiety generally, but our copy does not establish the more specific association with social anxiety. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
PremisecitationIndividuals with lower self-concept clarity are more susceptible to higher levels of rejection sensitivity and have greater sensitivity to negative external evaluations.
“Previous research has indicated that individuals with lower levels of self-concept clarity are more susceptible to higher levels of rejection sensitivity and have greater sensitivity to negative external evaluations [20].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked- cites [20] Ayduk, 2009, Rejection Sensitivity Moderates the Impact of Rejection on Self-Concept Clarity, Personal. Soc. Psychol. Bull. source
Study 1’s Discussion reports that people high in rejection sensitivity had lower self-concept clarity after rejection. This supports a conditional link between the two, but the paper studies rejection sensitivity as a vulnerability to reduced clarity—not lower clarity as making people more rejection-sensitive. It also does not establish greater sensitivity to negative external evaluations generally. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
The quote only partly states this claim.
FindingreasoningFear of negative evaluation significantly negatively predicts self-disclosure.
“Fear of negative evaluation can significantly negatively predict fear of self-disclosure.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimIt may state two separate claims as one.
PremisecitationIndividuals with elevated social anxiety often adopt self-concealment strategies to protect themselves from potential negative evaluations when they perceive deficits in their self-image, leading them to engage in fewer conversations and disclose less information to others.
“Those with elevated social anxiety often adopt self-concealment strategies to protect themselves from potential negative evaluations when they perceive deficits in their self-image. This can lead them to engage in fewer conversations and disclose less information to others [31,32].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [31] Moscovitch, 2013, Self-portrayal concerns and their relation to safety behaviors and negative affect in social anxiety disorder, Behav. Res. Ther. source
- cites [32] Orr, 2015, Blending in at the cost of losing oneself: Dishonest self-disclosure erodes self-concept clarity in social anxiety, J. Exp. Psychopathol. source
It may state two separate claims as one.
Interpretationown dataSelf-concept clarity directly and indirectly predicts loneliness through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, and through the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure.
“the results showed that self-concept clarity was not only able to directly and negatively predict loneliness but also indirectly predict loneliness through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, as well as the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure.”
- Also stated in: § 3.3. Mediation Effect Analysis · plain
“Consequently, the results revealed that self-concept clarity not only directly predicted loneliness but also indirectly predicted loneliness through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, as well as through the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure, thus supporting our hypothesis.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The causal ordering of self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness is as specified in the mediation model (i.e., self-concept clarity precedes and influences the others).
- Rests on an assumption: The sample of college students recruited from Changchun, Jinan, Harbin, and other cities is representative of Chinese college students.
- Rests on an assumption: The mediation model includes all relevant confounders (no omitted variable bias).
- Also stated in: § 3.3. Mediation Effect Analysis · plain
It may state two separate claims as one.
PremisecitationAn individual's level of self-disclosure is positively predicted by self-concept clarity, which is stronger than self-esteem when disclosing personal information to their romantic partners.
“According to research, an individual’s level of self-disclosure is positively predicted by self-concept clarity, which is stronger than self-esteem when disclosing personal information to their romantic partners [29].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [29] Tajmirriyahi, 2020, Self-concept clarity as a predictor of self-disclosure in romantic relationships, J. Soc. Personal. Relat. source
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
PremisecitationStrong friendships and interpersonal relationships can play a pivotal role in alleviating feelings of loneliness.
“Strong friendships and interpersonal relationships can play a pivotal role in alleviating feelings of loneliness [27].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [27] Zhang, 2021, Trajectory of Friendship Quality and Loneliness in Junior High School Students: A Multivariate Growth Model Analysis, Psychol. Dev. Educ.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Study design and conductown dataCronbach's alpha for the Self-Concept Clarity Scale was 0.88.
“In this study, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this scale was found to be 0.88.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Study design and conductown dataCronbach's alpha for the Self-Disclosure Scale was 0.74.
“In this study, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this scale was found to be 0.74.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim.
Study design and conductown dataThe chain-mediation effect test used 5000 bootstrap samples with 95% confidence intervals.
“the SPSS macro program PROCESS v3.3 Model 6 prepared by Hayes was used to conduct a chain-mediation effect test using 5000 bootstrap samples with 95% confidence intervals”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Study design and conductown dataThe final sample consisted of 1145 college students (validity rate 88%).
“After deleting participants with obvious patterns of responses, 1145 (M = 21.46 years, SD = 1.95, range 18 to 26) valid questionnaires were obtained, with a validity rate of 88%.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
PremisecitationResearch indicates that self-disclosure can help maintain strong interpersonal connections, enhance intimacy among partners, and contribute to greater satisfaction in friendships.
“Research indicates that self-disclosure can help maintain strong interpersonal connections, enhance intimacy among partners, and contribute to greater satisfaction in friendships [25,26].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [25] Choi, 2022, An Experiment on the Effects of Self-disclosure on Perceived Partner-Responsiveness and Intimacy in Zero-Acquaintance Relationships, Commun. Stud. source
- cites [26] Mo, 2020, The Effect of the Need to Belong on Friendship Satisfaction: The Chain Mediating Role of Empathy and Self Disclosure, J. Psychol. Sci.
Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.
PremisecitationAccording to the social penetration theory, self-disclosure serves as a vital mechanism for fostering social interactions and is a prerequisite for establishing and maintaining intimate relationships, such as friendships.
“According to the social penetration theory, self-disclosure serves as a vital mechanism for fostering social interactions and is a prerequisite for establishing and maintaining intimate relationships, such as friendships [24].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [24] Willems, 2020, The role of disclosure in relationships, Curr. Opin. Psychol. source
Probably not a substantial claim.
Study design and conductown dataGender, only-child status, and place of origin were used as control variables in the subsequent analysis.
“all three variables were used as control variables in the subsequent analysis.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimIt may state two separate claims as one.
PremisecitationIndividuals with high self-concept clarity are more likely to understand their own needs, values, and goals, actively seek social support and interactions, which increases relationship stability and quality, and ultimately reduces feelings of loneliness.
“Individuals with high self-concept clarity are more likely to understand their own needs, values, and goals, actively seek social support and interactions, which increases relationship stability and quality, and ultimately reduces feelings of loneliness [10].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [10] Lewandowski, 2010, The Role of Self-concept Clarity in Relationship Quality, Self Identity source
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Study design and conductnone givenEthical approval was obtained from the Academic Ethics Committee of the College of Psychology of Northeast Normal University.
“Prior to the survey, ethical approval was obtained from the Academic Ethics Committee of the College of Psychology of Northeast Normal University.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Study design and conductown dataCronbach's alpha for the Loneliness Scale was 0.92.
“In this study, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this scale in this study was found to be 0.92.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
Study design and conductnone givenThe use of self-report questionnaires in this study has potential limitations such as response bias and subjective interpretation.
“In addition, it is worth considering the potential limitations associated with the use of self-report questionnaires, such as response bias and subjective interpretation.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
PremisecitationSelf-concept clarity can predict a sense of meaning in life and subjective well-being through the fulfillment of basic psychological needs.
“Furthermore, it can predict a sense of meaning in life and subjective well-being through the fulfillment of basic psychological needs [45].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [45] Nie, 2017, Relationship between Self-concept Clarity and Meaning in Life and Subjective Well-being, Chin. J. Clin. Psychol.
Probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationPeople take actions to establish and maintain a favorable image of themselves in the minds of others (impression management theory).
“This finding supports the impression management theory that people take actions to establish and maintain a favorable image of themselves in the minds of others [33].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [33] Liu, 2006, Commentary on Impression Management and Its Relative Research, Adv. Psychol. Sci.
Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
PremisecitationIndividuals with strong friendships and relationships tend to perceive greater social support and receive positive feedback, resulting in increased subjective well-being and reduced feelings of loneliness.
“Individuals with strong friendships and relationships tend to perceive greater social support and receive positive feedback, resulting in increased subjective well-being and reduced feelings of loneliness [47].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [47] Dong, 2014, Self-disclosure on social networking sites, positive feedback, and social capital among Chinese college students, Comput. Hum. Behav. source
The paper relies on this without support.
Few studies have investigated the underlying mechanism between self-concept clarity and loneliness.
“Although several studies have examined the correlation between self-concept clarity and loneliness [8,9], few have investigated the underlying mechanism.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The causal ordering of self-concept clarity, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, and loneliness is as specified in the mediation model (i.e., self-concept clarity precedes and influences the others).
“this cross-sectional study focused on cognitive and behavioral factors in interpersonal communication situations, aiming to explore the relationship between self-concept clarity and loneliness as well as its internal mechanism.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The sample of college students recruited from Changchun, Jinan, Harbin, and other cities is representative of Chinese college students.
“An online questionnaire survey comprised 1145 college students in China”
The paper relies on this without support.
The mediation model includes all relevant confounders (no omitted variable bias).
“controlling for the participants’ gender, only-child status, and place of origin”
The paper relies on this without support.
The observed associations reflect a causal process in which self-concept clarity influences loneliness through fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, rather than reverse causation or confounding.
“This cross-sectional study finds self-concept clarity not only directly predicts loneliness, but also indirectly through the independent mediating effects of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure, as well as the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation to self-disclosure.”
“Finally, this study verifies Hypothesis 4 that self-concept clarity affects loneliness through the chain-mediating effect of fear of negative evaluation and self-disclosure.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Self-image is often gained through evaluations of others.
“Self-image is often gained through the evaluations of others.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Individuals with low self-concept clarity have difficulty extracting self-relevant information when coping with different situations and rely more on external information for decision-making.
“Individuals with low self-concept clarity have difficulty extracting self-relevant information when coping with different situations and rely more on external information for decision-making.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The need for belongingness is a fundamental psychological need for individuals.
“The need for belongingness is a fundamental psychological need for individuals.”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Pang, T., Wang, H., Zhang, X., & Zhang, X.
- Affiliations
- Northeast Normal University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Zhang, Xianbing
- Venue
- Behavioral Sciences
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2024-02-28
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 194
- ISSN
- 2076-328X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10967751
- OpenAlex
- W4392242370
- Semantic Scholar
- a1f9bd888852a22c521946d6a172c0b5ebcbeb0e
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 10.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Behavioral Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- General Program of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education of China (22YJA190010)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- self-concept clarity, loneliness, fear of negative evaluation, self-disclosure, serial mediation, university students, social penetration theory, interpersonal communication, mental health
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