Developmental changes in the structure of shyness and internalizing symptoms from early to middle childhood: A network analysis

Abstract

Shyness is a temperamental trait that shares considerable conceptual overlap with aspects of internalizing problems, creating difficulties in operationalizing and assessing these two constructs and their association. This study addresses these issues by employing network analyses. Participants were, white, N = 555 children (Mage = 52.45 months, SD = 15.96, 55% girls) followed longitudinally over 4 years (2016–2010) in Norway. Teachers rated child shyness and assessed children's internalizing symptoms. Results suggest that two behavioral shyness traits were the most central aspects of shyness. The centrality of these aspects was robust across age. The most influential symptom connecting internalizing symptoms with shyness was “unhappy.” Shyness became more differentiated with development, and associations between anxiety‐related symptoms and shyness increased as children entered formal schooling.

The role of early social play behaviors and language skills for shy children’s later internalizing difficulties in school

“…Previous research has also demonstrated gender differences in shyness, as well as in its associations with developmental outcomes (2, 45,46), although such differences have not been consistently reported (47,48). Studies also have shown parental socioeconomic factors to be associated with a variety of child outcomes (49, 50).…”

Are you alone? Measuring solitude in childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood

“…For example, s hyness (high approach; high avoidance) is characterized by an internal conflict between the desire to engage with others and socio-evaluative fears. Of note, shyness shares conceptual overlap (but is distinct from) anxiety (particularly social anxiety), which can also fuel solitary behavior ( 23 ). Next, social avoidance (low approach; high avoidance) is characterized by both a high desire to avoid others and a drive to be alone.…”