Rooyesh-e- Ravanshenasi Journal(RRJ)

The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of information processing bias and self-concept in the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety. This study employed a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of 294 students from Tabriz selected through multistage random cluster sampling during the 2024-2025 academic year. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ; Bernstein et al., 2003), the Social Anxiety Scale (SAS; Watson & Friend, 1969), the Revised Interpretation Bias Questionnaire (QB-R; Amir et al., 1998), and the Self-Concept Questionnaire (SCQ; Saraswat, 1984). The results indicated that the proposed model showed an acceptable fit. Childhood trauma had a significant direct relationship with interpretation bias and self-concept (P<0.05). However, its direct relationship with social anxiety was not significant (P>0.05). In addition, interpretation bias and self-concept had significant direct relationships with social anxiety (P<0.05). The results of the bootstrap test also showed that interpretation bias and self-concept played significant mediating roles in the relationship between childhood trauma and social anxiety (P<0.05). Overall, the findings suggest that childhood trauma is indirectly associated with social anxiety through self-concept and interpretation bias.