Fear of negative evaluation in a university population: The connections of body image, and social anxiety

Abstract

This study was a cross-sectional survey design that examined the connections of body image and perceived social anxiety as predictors of Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) in a university population in Nigeria. Using accidental sampling technique,two hundred and forty-five (245) students were selected from Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. The participants comprised of 120 [50.6%] males and 117 [49.4%] females. The participants age range from 16 to 34 years, [Mean = SD 22.42; =3.045]. FNE was measured by using Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, version 2 (BFNE-II), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-8C), and social anxiety was measured using social phobia inventory (SPIN). The result revealed that body shape significantly predicted fear of negative evaluation among undergraduates [β= .03, t= .53, p > .05]. The result showed that social anxiety significantly predicted fear of negative evaluation among undergraduates [β= .51, t= 8.59, p < .01]. Also, body image, and social anxiety jointly significantly predicts fear of negative evaluation among undergraduates [F (2, 242) = 46.63, R = .53, R2= .23, p <.01]. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that, the Nigerian government through the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with National Universities Commission (NUC), as well as other stakeholders should inculcate psychological interventions programmes in school curriculum to expose students to coping strategies and managing fear of negative evaluation.