Shyness, Unsociability, and Social Avoidance During Early Adolescence: Associations With Peer Relationships and Aggression. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eggum, Natalie D.; Zhang, Linlin; An, Danming; Xu, Jingyi; Clifford, Brandon N.; Costa, Megan
• Is Part Of: Journal of early adolescence. Volume 42:Number 7(2022)
• Page Start: 937
• Page End: 964
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: shyness -- unsociability -- avoidance -- aggression -- victimization -- exclusion; Adolescence -- United States -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 305.235
• DOI: 10.1177/02724316221088750
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4316

Abstract

We investigated how 5 th –8 th graders' self- and peer-identified withdrawal motivations predicted peer-reported peer relationships and aggression. Participants ( N = 221; 47% male) provided self-reports and peer-nomination data (we analyzed 339 students' nominations). We hypothesized shyness, unsociability, and avoidance would predict low peer liking and high exclusion; shyness and avoidance would predict high victimization and peer disliking; and avoidance would predict high aggression. Support was mixed. Results varied by withdrawal motivation reporter. Self-identified shy and avoidant individuals had low peer liking. Self-identified shy individuals had low disliking and low victimization. Peer-identified shy individuals had low disliking, high exclusion, and low aggression. Peer-identified unsociable individuals had low liking and high exclusion. Peer-identified avoidant individuals had low liking, high disliking, high exclusion, high victimization, and high aggression. Results suggest that peer-identified avoidant individuals have a concerning profile of peer relationships and aggression. Longitudinal work is needed to understand the developmental sequelae of avoidance.