Normative Beliefs about Social Withdrawal in Adolescence

Katherine R Wood; Robert J Coplan; Will E Hipson; Julie C Bowker

doi:10.1111/jora.12617

Normative Beliefs about Social Withdrawal in Adolescence

J Res Adolesc. 2022 Mar;32(1):372-381. doi: 10.1111/jora.12617. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Authors

Katherine R Wood¹, Robert J Coplan¹, Will E Hipson¹, Julie C Bowker²

Affiliations

¹ Carleton University.
² University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.

PMID: 33784421
DOI: 10.1111/jora.12617

Abstract

The goal of this study is to explore normative beliefs about social withdrawal during adolescence. Participants were N = 419 adolescents (M_age = 16.13 years), who completed measures of normative beliefs about social withdrawal and their own social withdrawal (shyness, unsociability). Among the results, adolescents reported greater overall acceptance of unsociability compared to shyness, however, some gender differences also emerged. Specifically, adolescents were more accepting of unsociability when depicted by hypothetical females, and more accepting of shyness when depicted by hypothetical males. Participant social withdrawal was associated with greater acceptance of socially withdrawn behaviors in others. These findings provide a first look at normative beliefs about social withdrawal during a developmentally critical age period for this construct.

Keywords: beliefs; gender; shyness; social withdrawal; unsociability.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations*
Male
Motivation
Sex Factors
Shyness*
Social Isolation