Shyness is a temperamental trait characterized by excessive fear and anxiety, especially in new social contexts (Rubin et al., 2009). Shy children are more disposed to internalizing difficulties, particularly symptoms of social anxiety (Sandstrom et al., 2020). It is important to identify protective factors, like prosocial behaviors (PB; i.e., actions that benefit others; Eisenberg et al.,2015) that may attenuate negative outcomes for shyness. This study examined the moderating role of PB in the links between shyness and internalizing difficulties. Participants were N=216 children (118 girls) aged 8-14 years (M age =11.07, SD=1.62). Children completed an online questionnaire to assess shyness (Crozier, 1995; α=.87), social anxiety (La Greca & Stone,1993; α=.92), depression (Kovacs, 2003; α=.88), loneliness (Asher & Wheeler, 1985; α=.78), and PB (Goodman, 1997; α=.67). Among the results, PB was negatively related to depression (r=-.30, p<.001) and loneliness (r=-.27, p<.001). Multivariate regression analysis also indicated significant interaction effects between shyness and PB in the prediction of social anxiety. Follow-up simple slope analyses indicated that the positive association between shyness and social anxiety was attenuated at higher levels of PB (β=.50, p<.001) compared to lower PB (β=.72, p<.001). Overall, PB can be a protective factor for shyness in later childhood and early adolescence.
The Moderating Role of Prosocial Behaviors in the Links between Child Shyness and Internalizing Difficulties / Brunetti, M.; De Marco, L.; Zava, F.; Laghi, F.; Coplan, R. J.; Sette, S.. - (2022). (Intervento presentato al convegno One-Day Conference "THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROSOCIAL AND AGGRESSIVE CONDUCTS: UNDERSTANDING AND INTERVENTIONS" tenutosi a Firenze).
The Moderating Role of Prosocial Behaviors in the Links between Child Shyness and Internalizing Difficulties
Brunetti M.;De Marco L.;Zava F.;Laghi F.;Sette S.
2022
Abstract
Shyness is a temperamental trait characterized by excessive fear and anxiety, especially in new social contexts (Rubin et al., 2009). Shy children are more disposed to internalizing difficulties, particularly symptoms of social anxiety (Sandstrom et al., 2020). It is important to identify protective factors, like prosocial behaviors (PB; i.e., actions that benefit others; Eisenberg et al.,2015) that may attenuate negative outcomes for shyness. This study examined the moderating role of PB in the links between shyness and internalizing difficulties. Participants were N=216 children (118 girls) aged 8-14 years (M age =11.07, SD=1.62). Children completed an online questionnaire to assess shyness (Crozier, 1995; α=.87), social anxiety (La Greca & Stone,1993; α=.92), depression (Kovacs, 2003; α=.88), loneliness (Asher & Wheeler, 1985; α=.78), and PB (Goodman, 1997; α=.67). Among the results, PB was negatively related to depression (r=-.30, p<.001) and loneliness (r=-.27, p<.001). Multivariate regression analysis also indicated significant interaction effects between shyness and PB in the prediction of social anxiety. Follow-up simple slope analyses indicated that the positive association between shyness and social anxiety was attenuated at higher levels of PB (β=.50, p<.001) compared to lower PB (β=.72, p<.001). Overall, PB can be a protective factor for shyness in later childhood and early adolescence.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.