Japanese Translation of the Concerns of Social Reprisal Scale and Examination of the Bivalent Fear of Evaluation Model for Social Anxiety in Japan

The bivalent fear of evaluation model explains the association of fear of evaluation and heightened social anxiety via concerns of social reprisal (CSR) and disqualification of positive social outcomes (DPSO). The constructs of the model may differ in individualistic (e.g., Australia) and collectivistic countries (e.g., Japan); however, no study has examined the model, including CSR, in collectivistic countries. This study develops the Japanese translation of the Concerns of Social Reprisal Scale (CSRS) and examines constructs of the bivalent fear of evaluation model in Japan. Overall, 496 participants completed CSR and social-anxiety-related questionnaires. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 1-factor structure for the Japanese translation of the CSRS. Convergent validity and internal consistency were supported by significant relationships between social-anxiety-related variables and high McDonald's omega coefficient. Discriminant validity was partially supported by higher correlation between the CSRS and DPSO scale than correlation to the fear of negative evaluation scale. Path analysis revealed that the best fitting bivalent fear of evaluation model is similar to the individualistic country model, although DPSO contributes to social anxiety symptoms more than fear of positive evaluation.