AUTHOR=Wang Fengxia , Wang Yufan , Yang Qihao , Ju Qiu , Li Jinyan , Liu Meng , Wang Yuxiao 

TITLE=The impact of core self-evaluation on social anxiety among male nursing interns: the mediating role of self-acceptance

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544629

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544629

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the mediating role of self-acceptance in the relationship between core self-evaluation and social anxiety. Specifically, it aimed to investigate the effects of core self-evaluation and the impact of self-acceptance on social anxiety among male nursing students during their internship.MethodsA purposive sampling method was used to select a sample of 149 male nursing students from 8 tertiary hospitals in Henan Province. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the Core Self-Esteem Scale and the Social Anxiety Scale. The Scale of Self-Acceptance was also administered, and the data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software with the Process plug-in.ResultsThe results indicated a significant positive correlation between core self-evaluation and self-acceptance (r = 0.486), as well as a significant negative correlation between core self-evaluation and social anxiety (r = −0.559). Additionally, a significant negative correlation was observed between self-acceptance and social anxiety (r = −0.457). The direct effect of core self-evaluation on social anxiety was −0.584, while the indirect effect via self-acceptance was −0.157, resulting in a total effect size of −0.741 and a mediating effect size of 21.19%.ConclusionThe findings indicate that self-acceptance partially mediates the relationship between core self-evaluation and social anxiety among male nursing students during their internship.