Self-Reported Shyness and Social and School Adjustment in Children and Adolescents
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| Title: | Self-Reported Shyness and Social and School Adjustment in Children and Adolescents |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Qinglin Bian, Xinyin Chen (ORCID |
| Source: | International Journal of Behavioral Development. 2026 50(1):23-33. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education Junior High Schools Middle Schools Secondary Education Grade 5 Intermediate Grades Grade 8 |
| Descriptors: | Shyness, Children, Adolescents, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, Peer Relationship, Adjustment (to Environment), Grade 5, Grade 8, Academic Achievement, Behavior Problems, Foreign Countries, Gender Differences |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1177/01650254241312130 |
| ISSN: | 0165-0254 1464-0651 |
| Abstract: | Shyness in childhood and adolescence is associated with problems in social, academic, and psychological adjustment in today's China. However, the functional meaning of shyness needs to be examined in the developmental context. This 1 year longitudinal study explored the relations between self-reported shyness and indexes of adjustment in Chinese children and adolescents. The participants included 2,308 students in China, with 1,062 initially in the fifth grade (M[subscript age] = 11.50 years, 539 boys) in elementary schools and 1,246 initially in the eighth grade (M[subscript age] = 14.27 years, 641 boys) in middle schools. Shyness was assessed using a self-report measure, and data on social and school adjustment were obtained from multiple sources. Among the results, shyness was negatively associated with later academic performance and positively associated with later behavioral problems and peer victimization in childhood. For adolescents, whereas shyness was not significantly associated with academic performance or behavioral problems, it contributed to decreased peer victimization. The results indicate the importance of understanding shyness from a developmental perspective. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1495277 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Shyness in childhood and adolescence is associated with problems in social, academic, and psychological adjustment in today's China. However, the functional meaning of shyness needs to be examined in the developmental context. This 1 year longitudinal study explored the relations between self-reported shyness and indexes of adjustment in Chinese children and adolescents. The participants included 2,308 students in China, with 1,062 initially in the fifth grade (M[subscript age] = 11.50 years, 539 boys) in elementary schools and 1,246 initially in the eighth grade (M[subscript age] = 14.27 years, 641 boys) in middle schools. Shyness was assessed using a self-report measure, and data on social and school adjustment were obtained from multiple sources. Among the results, shyness was negatively associated with later academic performance and positively associated with later behavioral problems and peer victimization in childhood. For adolescents, whereas shyness was not significantly associated with academic performance or behavioral problems, it contributed to decreased peer victimization. The results indicate the importance of understanding shyness from a developmental perspective. |
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| ISSN: | 0165-0254 1464-0651 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/01650254241312130 |
