Asocial and afraid: An examination of shyness and anxiety in emerging adulthood

Shy emerging adults report greater internalizing behaviors and lower quality close relationships, but fewer externalizing behaviors (Nelson et al, 2008). Although multiple forms of children's and adolescents' social withdrawal have been identified such as social fearfulness and social disinterest (withdrawal but no fear; e.g., Coplan & Rubin, 2010), less work has been done to examine emerging adults' multiple forms of withdrawal. Therefore, we conducted an online study of emerging adults (N = 813) at five American colleges and universities (57% women; 73% European American), and identified 29 asocial 57 shy, and a comparison group of 314 emerging adults. Results indicated that shyanxious emerging adults experienced the worst levels of adjustment; thus, being shy and anxious may impede important developmental tasks of emerging adulthood such as settling on one's religious belief, developing an identity and developing quality relationships with others (peers and parents).