The Relationship Between Interparental Conflict and Social Anxiety Among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model

Purpose: Our aim is to construct a moderated mediation model for investigating the effect of interparental conflict on social anxiety, the potential mediating role of psychological resilience, the moderating effect of perceived social support on this association, and the gender difference among Chinese college students. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1343 Chinese college students from Anhui Province, Hunan Province, Jiangsu Province, and Henan Province, China, in March 2024. Pearson correlation, mediation effects analyses, and multiple-group comparison were conducted. Results: (1) Interparental conflict and social anxiety varied significantly with gender, while the interparental conflict (t = -3.998, p < 0.001) and social anxiety (t = -4.644,p < 0.001) in the female group were significantly more severe than in the male group. However, there was no significant difference in interparental conflict and social anxiety between different grades (p > 0.05); (2) Interparental conflict positively predicts social anxiety; (3) The relationship between interparental conflict and social anxiety is mediated by psychological resilience; (4) The relationship between interparental conflict and psychological resilience is moderated by perceived social support; (5) The mediating effect was found only in women, but the moderating effect was no gender difference. Conclusion: It is crucial to recognize and cultivate the psychological resilience of college students and to provide them with appropriate high social support. This is conducive to alleviating the social anxiety suffered by college students and promote their psycho-social well-being.