Associations Between Shyness and Internalizing Behaviors,Externalizing Behaviors, and Relationships during EmergingAdulthood

摘要

Many studies have documented the ways inwhich shyness can be a barrier to personal well-being andsocial adjustment throughout childhood and adolescence;however, less is known regarding shyness in emergingadulthood. Shyness as experienced during emergingadulthood may continue to be a risk factor for successfuldevelopment. The purpose of this study was to compareshy emerging adults with their non-shy peers in (a) inter-nalizing behaviors, (b) externalizing behaviors, and (c)close relationships. Participants included 813 undergradu-ate students (500 women, 313 men) from a number oflocations across the United States. Results showed thatrelatively shy emerging adults, both men and women, hadmore internalizing problems (e.g., anxious, depressed, lowself-perceptions in multiple domains), engaged in fewer externalizing behaviors (e.g., less frequent drinking), andexperienced poorer relationship quality with parents, bestfriends, and romantic partners than did their non-shy peers.