Investigation of Rapee and Heimberg Cognitive Model in Explaining Shyness Using Structural Equation Modeling

The aim of the present investigation is to study the cognitive model of Rapee and Heimberg in explaining shyness. In the same vein, the mediating role of fear of negative evaluation and social-physique anxiety in the relationship between body image and Self-Focused Attention with shyness was investigated. Statistical population included all students studying at Mohaghegh Ardabili University in 2019-2020, among them, 222 people were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Focus of attention questionnaire, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Social physique anxiety scale, Cheeck-Briggs Shyness scale, and Body Image Rating Scale. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results revealed that that the variables of fear of negative evaluation and social-physique anxiety play a mediating role in the relationship between body image and focus of attention with shyness. In the face of social situations, a kind of mental representation of appearance is formed in the person that becomes the focus of attention, also attention is paid to the negative evaluation of others, and finally the anxiety caused by these two sources increases shyness, in other words, the cognitive processes of Rapee and Heimberg conceptual model of social anxiety also play a role in explaining shyness.