Shyness and depressive symptoms: a multiple mediation model involving core self-evaluations and sense of security

Abstract Background Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders among Chinese university students. Some depressed students are observed to be shy. Therefore, the current study aimed to verify the association of shyness and depression symptoms and explore how shyness is positively associated with depressive symptoms. According to Blatt's model of depression, the current study explores the mediating roles of core self-evaluation and sense of security, as an affective factor and a cognitive factor, in the relationship between shyness and depressive symptoms. Methods The participants (543 Chinese college students) completed the Revised Henderson Undergraduate Shyness Scale, Core Self-Evaluations Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Security Questionnaire. The bivariate correlations between variables andthe multiple mediation model were tested by correlation analysis and structural equation model respectively. Results Shyness was significantly and positively correlated with depressive symptoms; shyness and depressive symptoms were significantly and negatively correlated with sense of security and core self-evaluations; and sense of security was significantly and positively correlated with core self-evaluations. Core self-evaluations and sense of security played complete mediating effects in the relationship between shyness and depressive symptoms parallelly and sequentially. Limitations The cross-sectional design we used limited causal interpretations. Besides, the sample was restricted to college students, and the generalizability of the results is thus limited. Conclusions Shyness increases the risk ofdepression by reducing the sense of security and core self-evaluation, as well as by the sequential mediating effects of sense of security and core self-evaluations.