Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Criticism as Determinants of Self-Esteem in College Students: A Mediational Analysis

The present study aimed to find the role of fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and Self-Criticism (SC) in determining the Self-Esteem (SE) of college-going individuals in District Multan. This study was correlational research conducted through the survey method. Data was collected from college boys and girls, approached through convenient sampling. The data was analysed using Pearson correlation, Regression, and Mediation analysis through Hayes’s PROCESS macro. The findings reveal that FNE has a significant negative relationship with the SE. Regression analysis shows a significant impact of FNE on the SE of college students. The direct effect of FNE on SE was significant and negative. The indirect effect indicated a significant mediating effect of SC. The findings highlight the significance of the statistical model and explain that FNE and SC are strong predictors of SE in college students. This study can help develop intervention and support systems for college individuals struggling with these issues that affect their SE, which leads to further issues.