Associations Between Shyness and Internalizing Behaviors,Externalizing Behaviors,and Relationships during Emerging Adulthood

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.

Larry J. NelsonEmail:

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Larry J. Nelson   is an Associate Professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. He received his Ph.D. in 2000 from the University of Maryland, College Park. His major research interests are in social and self development during early childhood and emerging adulthood. Laura M. Padilla-Walker   is an Assistant Professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. She received her Ph.D. in 2005 from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. Her major research interests center on the parent-adolescent relationship as it relates to adolescents’ moral and prosocial behaviors and internalization of values. Sarah Badger   received her Ph.D. in 2005 from Brigham Young University. Her major research interests are marriage formation and development as well as emerging adulthood and marriage readiness. Carolyn McNamara Barry   is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Loyola College in Maryland. She received her Ph.D. in 2001 from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her major research interests are in social and self development during adolescence and emerging adulthood. Jason S. Carroll   is an Associate Professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. He received his Ph.D. in 2001 from the University of Minnesota. His major research interests are in marriage formation and development as well as emerging adulthood and marriage readiness. Stephanie D. Madsen   is an Associate Professor of Psychology at McDaniel College. She received her Ph.D. in 2001 from the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota. She is particularly interested in how relationships with significant others impact child and adolescent development.