Keywords

shyness, emerging adulthood, externalizing behaviors, internalizing problems

Abstract

Many studies have documented the ways in which shyness can be a barrier to personal well-being and social adjustment throughout childhood and adolescence; however, less is known regarding shyness in emerging adulthood. Shyness as experienced during emerging adulthood may continue to be a risk factor for successful development. The purpose of this study was to compare shy emerging adults with their non-shy peers in (a) internalizing behaviors, (b) externalizing behaviors, and (c) close relationships. Participants included 813 undergraduate students (500 women, 313 men) from a number of locations across the United States. Results showed that relatively shy emerging adults, both men and women, had more internalizing problems (e.g., anxious, depressed, low self-perceptions in multiple domains), engaged in fewer externalizing behaviors (e.g., less frequent drinking), and experienced poorer relationship quality with parents, best friends, and romantic partners than did their non-shy peers.

Original Publication Citation

Nelson, L. J., Padilla-Walker, L. M., Badger, S., Barry, C.M., Carroll, J. S., & Madsen, S. D. (2008). Associations Between Shyness and Internalizing Behaviors, Externalizing Behaviors, and Relationships During Emerging Adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37 (5), 605-615.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2007-08-03

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7148

Publisher

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Download

Share

COinS