Neuroticism Causally Mediates the Relationship between Conscientiousness and Social Anxiety

Following neuroticism, conscientiousness is the second strongest predictor of unipolar mood disorders. Controlling for neuroticism, the relationship between conscientiousness and social anxiety decreased. VanderWeele’s causal mediation and decomposition found indirect effect present all the time and pure effect of interaction to be significant. Conscientiousness may impact social anxiety through neuroticism.