The Pattern of Structural Relationships between Emotional Schemas and Cognitive Fusion and Social Anxiety Symptoms in Students with the Mediating Role of Anxiety Sensitivity: A Descriptive Study

Social anxiety disorder is considered one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Considering the role of various factors in its creation and continuation, the current research was conducted with the aim of determining the relationships between emotional schemas and cognitive fusion and social anxiety symptoms with the mediating role of anxiety sensitivity.

In terms of methodology, the current research was a descriptive-correlational type of structural equations. The statistical population in this research consisted of all secondary school students of Qazvin City who started studying in the academic year 2023-2024. Four hundred of them (200 girls and 200 boys) were selected using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method and answered the questionnaires on emotional schemas, cognitive fusion, social people, and adolescent experiences. The analysis of research data was done through structural equations modeling.

The results of structural equations modeling showed that emotional schemas with a path coefficient of 0.35 and cognitive fusion with a coefficient of 0.20 have a significant direct relationship with the symptoms of social distress (p<0.001). Also, emotional schemas with a path coefficient of 0.19 and cognitive fusion with a path coefficient of 0.09 have a significant indirect relationship with social anxiety symptoms with the mediation of anxiety sensitivity (p<0.001).

The results of the present study indicated that emotional schemas and cognitive fusion can be risk factors for the symptoms of social anxiety disorder in adolescents. These variables can also intensify social anxiety by increasing anxiety sensitivity. It is recommended that mental health professionals pay attention to these factors in order to improve the quality and speed up treatment in their treatment plans.