Journal of Applied Psychological Research

Network analysis of social anxiety and perfectionistic self-presentation

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Hamid Kharatzadeh 1
Rasool Roshan-Chesli 2
Mohammadreza Shaeiri 3
Hojjatollah Farahani 4
Reza Bagherian-Sararoudi 5

1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

5 Department of Health Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22059/japr.2026.390221.645151
Abstract
The present study examined the network structure of social anxiety and perfectionistic self-presentation. This was a correlational, network analysis-based study. 1,599 (74.5% female) undergraduate and general practitioner students from universities across the country completed the online version of the Ryerson Social Anxiety Scale (RSAS) and the Perfectionist Self-Presentation Scale (PSPS) using convenience sampling. Central and bridge symptoms were identified using the expected influence and the bridge expected influence indices. The case-dropping procedure was used to examine network stability. The accuracy of network edge weights was evaluated using the bootstrap method. The data were analyzed using the R version 4.3.1 and SPSS-22 software. Results showed that the non-display of imperfection has the greatest impact on other nodes in the network, followed by anxiety-provoking social situations and the interference of social anxiety with life. Also, the non-display of imperfection and anxiety-provoking social situations were identified as bridge symptoms. It can be concluded that the non-display of imperfection is the most important node in this network, and targeting it can improve social anxiety.

Keywords

social anxiety
perfectionistic self-presentation
network analysis
Journal of Applied Psychological Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 03 February 2026

  • Receive Date 09 February 2025
  • Revise Date 14 May 2025
  • Accept Date 31 May 2025
  • First Publish Date 03 February 2026
  • Publish Date 03 February 2026