Emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between self-compassion and social anxiety: a meta-analytic structural equation modeling study.

Social anxiety (SA) is a prevalent issue that can hinder social interactions and overall well-being. This study examines how emotional intelligence (EI) mediates the relationship between self-compassion (SC) and SA using meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) based on 64 effect sizes from 52 studies. Our findings indicated a partial mediation model wherein SC exhibited a negative correlation with SA. Furthermore, SC positively influenced EI, which, in turn, demonstrated a negative correlation with SA, suggesting that elevated levels of EI may contribute to a reduction in SA. Our moderation analysis revealed that cultural differences, specifically between Eastern and Western cultures, impact the mediation model. Specifically, the direct effect of SC on SA was stronger in Eastern individuals, whereas EI demonstrated a stronger mediating effect in Western individuals. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of existing research, highlighting the potential of EI as a mediator in the SC-SA relationship and offering insights into culturally tailored interventions for SA.