Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Shyness Among Mothers of Young Children in Mainland China

This study examines both implicit and explicit attitudes toward shyness among mothers of young children in mainland China. The participants were 391 mothers (Mage = 35 years, SD = 3.84 years) of preschool-aged children from one kindergarten in Shanghai, China. At two time points separated by eight months, participants completed the online version of the Implicit Association Test-Shy (IAT-Shy), self-assessed their own shyness and their explicit attitudes about shyness, and rated their children's shyness. Over the eight-month period, Chinese mothers displayed more negative implicit attitudes toward shyness compared with their attitudes toward non-shyness (sociability). Implicit attitudes toward shyness were significantly related to explicit attitudes about shyness but were not significantly associated with maternal or child shyness.