The relationship between fear of negative evaluation and social anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) is widely regarded as a central cognitive component of social anxiety (SA). However, the strength and stability of the association between FNE and SA, as well as potential moderating factors, remain unclear. This study aimed to systematically synthesize existing evidence on the relationship between FNE and SA and to examine potential moderators.

This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024619488). A systematic search of major databases was conducted for studies published between January 2010 and April 2025. Eligible studies examined the association between FNE and SA. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled effect sizes, with heterogeneity assessed using Q and I² statistics. Moderator analyses were conducted to explore sources of variability.