Prospective Associations Between Fears of Negative Evaluation, Fears of Positive Evaluation, and Social Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescence

Abstract

Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and fear of positive evaluation (FPE) are independently associated with social anxiety symptoms in adolescence, though no study has tested these relations longitudinally. The current study examined longitudinal relations between FNE, FPE, and social anxiety symptoms using a multi-informant design, in addition to testing adolescent gender as a moderator. Adolescents (N = 113; Mage = 12.39; Girls = 44.2%) and parents completed measures of FNE, FPE, and two ratings of social anxiety approximately 6 months apart. FNE and FPE demonstrated significant stability over time, but neither predicted change in the other construct. Adolescent and parent-reported FNE, but not FPE, predicted increased social anxiety symptoms. Adolescent report of social anxiety symptoms predicted increased FPE over time, whereas parent report of social anxiety symptoms predicted increased FNE. Contrary to hypothesis, gender did not moderate any of the pathways in the model. Findings provide the first evidence that FNE may function as a risk factor for increased social anxiety in adolescence.