Social context and the shifting nature of judgment worry: An ecological momentary assessment study with first-generation college students.
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| Title: | Social context and the shifting nature of judgment worry: An ecological momentary assessment study with first-generation college students. |
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| Authors: | Homan, Caroline (AUTHOR), Kho, Carmen (AUTHOR), Zawadzki, Matthew J. (AUTHOR), Bentz, Jordan (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology. Jun2026, Vol. 45 Issue 3, p199-226. 28p. |
| Subjects: | Social context, Judgment (Psychology), Evaluation methodology, Social integration, Ecological momentary assessments (Clinical psychology), First-generation college students, Social belonging, Loneliness |
| Abstract: | Introduction: Judgment worry is the proximal appraisal of whether a social evaluation has occurred. Although judgment worry is context-sensitive, there is gap in research examining how momentary shifts in daily experiences are associated with variations in judgment worry. Methods: This study examined whether judgment worry functions as a dynamic state with moment-to-moment variations influenced by social context. These processes were tested among first-generation college students who often face unique academic, cultural, and socioeconomic pressures that may heighten the salience of judgment worry. First-generation college students completed ecological momentary assessments four times a day across 14 days (N = 172; k = 6,352), reporting on momentary judgment worry and aspects of their social environment (e.g., belongingness, loneliness, pleasantness, and connectedness). Results: Multilevel models revealed a substantial amount of the variance in judgment worry (49.7%) occurs within-person. Participants reported that in the moments they experienced greater belongingness, more pleasant social interactions, or greater connectedness with social partners, these were also the moments when they experienced less judgment worry. In contrast, in moments they experienced greater loneliness, they reported more judgment worry. Discussion: Results demonstrate judgment worry as contextually responsive and dynamic, rather than purely trait-like, with changes in social context predictive of this social-evaluative processing sequence. These findings suggest the potential to curate protective contexts for improving the lives and wellbeing of first-generation college students in meaningful ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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