The Relationship Between Adolescent Peer Attachment and Social Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Self-Concept and the Moderating Role of Physical Exercise

Abstract

Background In recent years, with the increasing prominence of mental health issues among adolescents, social anxiety has become one of the focal points of research. Social anxiety not only affects adolescents' daily social interactions but can also trigger more severe psychological disorders, with instances like depression and social withdrawal. Therefore, understanding the key factors influencing adolescent social anxiety is crucial for psychological interventions and prevention. Existing studies have identified peer attachment, self-concept, and physical exercise as significant variables affecting adolescent social anxiety, yet the interaction mechanisms among them still require further exploration. Objective This research seeks to examine how peer attachment influences social anxiety in the adolescent age group, with a focus on the mediating impact of self-concept within this dynamic. Additionally, the study explores the moderating influence of physical exercise on the connections between peer attachment, self-concept, and social anxiety. Methods This study collected data using a questionnaire survey method, employing tools such as the Peer Attachment Scale, Self-Concept Clarity Scale, Adolescent Social Anxiety Scale, and Physical Activity Rating Scale-3. A total of 365 adolescents from three schools were surveyed to measure their self-reported responses regarding peer attachment, social anxiety, self-concept, and physical exercise. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted to investigate the early associations among the variables, the mediating effect of self-concept was tested using PROCESS Macro Model 4 in SPSS 26.0, and Model 59 was utilized to explore the moderating role of physical exercise. Results The study revealed significant relationships among the variables examined. Adolescent attachment to peers substantially reduces the likelihood of experiencing social anxiety, with self-concept playing a partial mediating role in this relationship. Moreover, physical exercise significantly moderated this relationship: under elevated levels of physical activity, the impact of peer attachment in reducing social anxiety was more pronounced. Furthermore, enhancing the clarity of self-concept effectively reduced social anxiety regardless of the level of physical exercise, although the impact was not significantly influenced by the level of physical exercise. Conclusions and Implications This study uncovered the mechanism by which peer attachment indirectly influences social anxiety through self-concept and highlighted the significant moderating role of physical exercise in this process. The findings provide empirical evidence for interventions aimed at alleviating social anxiety in adolescents. It is recommended that educational and psychological guidance efforts focus on strengthening peer attachment, enhancing self-concept, and encouraging physical exercise as effective strategies to mitigate social anxiety among adolescents.