SELF-CONCEALMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF SOCIAL SELF-EFFICACY

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the psychological impact of self-concealment on depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in Pakistan. It further examines whether social self-efficacy moderates the relationship between self-concealment and these mental health outcomes, potentially buffering the adverse effects of concealment. Rooted in Self-Concealment Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, the study explores how these theoretical frameworks explain the dynamics between self-concealment, social self-efficacy, and psychological well-being. Employing a cross-sectional correlational design, 380 students from four public universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were initially screened using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), with 297 participants exhibiting mild to moderate distress qualifying for inclusion. Standardized instruments included the Self-Concealment Scale (SCS) and the Perceived Social Self-Efficacy Scale (PSSE), alongside DASS-21 subscales were used. Quantitative analyses revealed that self-concealment significantly predicted higher levels of depression (β = .51), anxiety (β = .47), and stress (β = .49), while social self-efficacy was inversely correlated with all psychological distress indicators. Moderation analysis confirmed that social self-efficacy significantly buffered the relationship between self-concealment and overall distress (Estimate = −0.21, p = .003), indicating that the negative psychological impact of self-concealment was reduced among students with higher social self-efficacy. These findings underscore the role of self-concealment as a robust risk factor for psychological distress among university students in collectivist cultural contexts like Pakistan, while social self-efficacy offers a protective buffer.