Effects of body image concerns on college students’ heterosexual interaction anxiety: A moderated mediating model.

College students are at a critical stage of exploring identity and romantic relationships, where they become more sensitive to their appearance, shape, and posture, and are more likely to be dissatisfied with perceived flaws or deficiencies in their body image, i.e. body image concerns. However, little is known about how body image concerns among college students may affect them to engage in healthy Heterosexual interpersonal activities or further cultivate intimate relationships. This study investigated the mediating role of body esteem and the moderating effect of gender in the relationship between body image concerns and heterosexual interaction anxiety. Based on a field survey of 838 college students, the results showed that: (1) body image concerns positively predicted college students’ heterosexual interaction anxiety; (2) body esteem played a partial mediating role between body image concerns and heterosexual interaction anxiety; and (3) gender moderated the association between body esteem and body esteem. Compared with males, the effect of body image concerns on body esteem among females was stronger. These findings explained the generation of heterosexual interaction anxiety and provided theoretical guidance for prevention and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]