Abstract
This paper reports on three studies of shy behavior in Mainland Chinese children. In Study 1 (N = 107, M age = 10.05), a Chinese Shyness Scale (CSS) was developed based on Chinese teachers’ open-ended descriptions of children’s shy behavior. In Study 2 (N = 388, M age = 10.80) and Study 3 (N = 198, M age = 10.20), the construct validity of the two forms of shyness that emerged in Study 1 (i.e., anxious shyness and regulated shyness) were examined in relation to children’s social preference, temperament, and psychosocial adjustment. A distinct pattern of results was found for anxious shyness and regulated shyness. The findings highlight the role of culture in shaping expression of children’s shy behavior.
Recommended Citation
Xu, Yiyuan; Farver, Jo Ann M.; Chang, Lei; Zhang, Zengxiu; and Yu, Lidong
(2007)
"Moving Away or Fitting In?
Understanding Shyness in Chinese Children,"
Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: Vol. 53:
Iss.
4, Article 2.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/mpq/vol53/iss4/2