Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Criticism as Determinants of Self-Esteem in College Students

A Mediational Analysis

Authors

  • Ambreen Aftab Department of Psychology, University of Southern Punjab, Multan – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6069-850X
  • Saadia Zia (Ph.D) Department of Psychology, University of Southern Punjab, Multan – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2269-5635
  • Sarah Mahmood (Ph.D Psychology) Department of Applied Psychology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9133-8261
  • Manika Arbab Department of Psychology, University of Southern Punjab, Multan – Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15786104

Abstract

Abstract Views: 1064

The present study aimed to find the role of fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and Self-Criticism (SC) in determining the Self-Esteem (SE) of college-going individuals in District Multan. This study was correlational research conducted through the survey method. Data was collected from college boys and girls, approached through convenient sampling. The data was analysed using Pearson correlation, Regression, and Mediation analysis through Hayes’s PROCESS macro. The findings reveal that FNE has a significant negative relationship with the SE. Regression analysis shows a significant impact of FNE on the SE of college students. The direct effect of FNE on SE was significant and negative. The indirect effect indicated a significant mediating effect of SC. The findings highlight the significance of the statistical model and explain that FNE and SC are strong predictors of SE in college students. This study can help develop intervention and support systems for college individuals struggling with these issues that affect their SE, which leads to further issues.

Keywords:

College students, Fear of negative evaluation, Mediational analysis, Self-criticism, Self-esteem

Author Biographies

Ambreen Aftab,

She is a Research Scholar at the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Punjab in Multan – Pakistan. She completed her MPhil in Psychology from the University of Southern Punjab in Multan – Pakistan.

Saadia Zia (Ph.D),

She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Punjab in Multan – Pakistan. She obtained her Doctorate in Applied Psychology from The Islamia University of Bahawalpur in Bahawalpur – Pakistan.

Sarah Mahmood (Ph.D Psychology),

She is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Psychology, Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan – Pakistan. She obtained her Doctorate in Psychology from Government College University (GCU), Lahore – Pakistan availing a doctoral research attachment from University of Leeds, UK.

Manika Arbab,

She is a Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Punjab in Multan – Pakistan. She completed her M.Phil in Applied Psychology from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan – Pakistan.

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Academy of Education and Social Sciences Review

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Published

2025-05-31

How to Cite

Aftab, A., Zia, S., Mahmood, S., & Arbab, M. (2025). Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Criticism as Determinants of Self-Esteem in College Students: A Mediational Analysis. Academy of Education and Social Sciences Review, 5(2), 323–330. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15786104

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025)

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Articles

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