Body surveillance predicts young Chinese women’s social anxiety: Testing a mediation model

This study investigated whether body surveillance would positively predict young Chinese women’s social anxiety and its potential mechanisms. A total of 218 young Chinese women (M_age = 21 years-old, range = 16–28) participated. The results showed that body surveillance positively predicted women’s appearance-based rejection sensitivity through body shame and need to belong, which in turn predicted social anxiety. These results suggest that, in addition to intrapersonal consequences, body surveillance may also influence women’s interpersonal well-being. Our research contributes to a better understanding of the influences of self-objectification by incorporating interpersonal distress. Copyright © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.