Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university students

Abstract Background This study focuses on college students as research subjects, exploring the relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-care, as well as the moderating effect of self-care on the prediction of ambivalence over emotional expression by fe...

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Main Authors: Tian Huang, Wenbo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-03-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01629-5
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author Tian Huang
Wenbo Wang
author_facet Tian Huang
Wenbo Wang
author_sort Tian Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study focuses on college students as research subjects, exploring the relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-care, as well as the moderating effect of self-care on the prediction of ambivalence over emotional expression by fear of evaluation. Methods This study selected physical education college students in Sichuan Province as the research participants. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants through public recruitment information and questionnaire links on online platforms commonly used by college students. The questionnaire was distributed at two different time points to reduce the effect of common method bias. A total of 858 questionnaires were distributed, after excluding duplicate responses, a total of 743 valid questionnaires were obtained. Results The result as following: (1) College students exhibit a moderate to high level of negative fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-care, with female students having higher negative fear of evaluation; (2) There are significant correlations between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-care; (3) Fear of evaluation and self-care can predict ambivalence over emotional expression, but self-care does not have a moderating effect on the prediction of ambivalence over emotional expression by fear of evaluation; (4) Self-care and negative self-care both have a moderating effect on the prediction of emotion rumination by positive fear of evaluation. Conclusions In the past, rumination has often been considered a manifestation of excessive rumination and anxiety. However, this study found that self-compassion’s modulation on fear of positive evaluation intensifies its impact on emotional rumination. Research suggests that moderate emotional rumination may not necessarily be a negative outcome and reflects a positive emotional adjustment process to some extent. Therefore, future studies can further explore the growth and decline of internal rumination processes in self-compassion or counseling, and potentially gain a better understanding of key elements of personal growth.
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spelling doaj.art-8d13f3d9a1b14ec7941efe4fde2e15132024-03-10T12:24:38ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832024-03-0112111110.1186/s40359-024-01629-5Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university studentsTian Huang0Wenbo Wang1School of Physical Education and Sports, Sichuan UniversitySchool of Physical Education and Sports, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Background This study focuses on college students as research subjects, exploring the relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-care, as well as the moderating effect of self-care on the prediction of ambivalence over emotional expression by fear of evaluation. Methods This study selected physical education college students in Sichuan Province as the research participants. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants through public recruitment information and questionnaire links on online platforms commonly used by college students. The questionnaire was distributed at two different time points to reduce the effect of common method bias. A total of 858 questionnaires were distributed, after excluding duplicate responses, a total of 743 valid questionnaires were obtained. Results The result as following: (1) College students exhibit a moderate to high level of negative fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-care, with female students having higher negative fear of evaluation; (2) There are significant correlations between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-care; (3) Fear of evaluation and self-care can predict ambivalence over emotional expression, but self-care does not have a moderating effect on the prediction of ambivalence over emotional expression by fear of evaluation; (4) Self-care and negative self-care both have a moderating effect on the prediction of emotion rumination by positive fear of evaluation. Conclusions In the past, rumination has often been considered a manifestation of excessive rumination and anxiety. However, this study found that self-compassion’s modulation on fear of positive evaluation intensifies its impact on emotional rumination. Research suggests that moderate emotional rumination may not necessarily be a negative outcome and reflects a positive emotional adjustment process to some extent. Therefore, future studies can further explore the growth and decline of internal rumination processes in self-compassion or counseling, and potentially gain a better understanding of key elements of personal growth.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01629-5Fear of evaluationAmbivalence over emotional expressionSelf-Compassion
spellingShingle Tian Huang
Wenbo Wang
Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university students
BMC Psychology
Fear of evaluation
Ambivalence over emotional expression
Self-Compassion
title Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university students
title_full Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university students
title_fullStr Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university students
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university students
title_short Relationship between fear of evaluation, ambivalence over emotional expression, and self-compassion among university students
title_sort relationship between fear of evaluation ambivalence over emotional expression and self compassion among university students
topic Fear of evaluation
Ambivalence over emotional expression
Self-Compassion
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01629-5
work_keys_str_mv AT tianhuang relationshipbetweenfearofevaluationambivalenceoveremotionalexpressionandselfcompassionamonguniversitystudents
AT wenbowang relationshipbetweenfearofevaluationambivalenceoveremotionalexpressionandselfcompassionamonguniversitystudents