Effect of Social Desirability on Self-Reported Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Emerging Adults: The Moderating Role of Biological Sex and Race

Social desirability refers to the inclination to answer self-report questionnaires in a way that presents the respondent favorably to others rather than truthfully (Holtgraves, 2004). The objective of this research was to examine the impact of social desirability on individuals' self-reported experiences of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, it examined how demographic characteristics such as biological sex and race could potentially moderate the relationship between social desirability and self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress. This study utilized an archival dataset of 733 undergraduate students from a Mid-Atlantic university in the United States. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-tests and linear regression analyses. The results indicated that social desirability exhibits negative relationships with self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress, suggesting that individuals who score higher on social desirability tend to report fewer mental health symptoms. The hypotheses proposing moderating effects of biological sex and race on the relationship between social desirability and self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress were not supported. However, the conclusions drawn from this study contribute to our understanding of the intricate interplay between social desirability and negative emotional symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and stress.