Abstract
We investigated the co-occurrence of and cross-informant agreement on early adolescents’ shyness, unsociability, and avoidance measured by self- and peer reports for fifth to eighth graders (N = 383; 51% male) in the United States. Avoidance was significantly and positively associated with shyness and unsociability based on peer reports and self-reports. Furthermore, 45% and 30% of peer- and self-reported withdrawn adolescents had multiple motivations for withdrawal, suggesting prevalent co-occurrence of withdrawal subtypes. Cross-informant agreement was moderate for shyness and weak for unsociability and avoidance. We draw attention to the complexity of motivations underlying withdrawal, theorize about subtype co-occurrence, and discuss challenges and opportunities related to peer-reported unsociability and avoidance.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 73-88 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Social Development |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2020 |
Keywords
- avoidance
- measurement
- shyness
- social withdrawal
- unsociability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)