Don't Shy Away! Relations Among Activity Level, Gender, and Social Behaviors in Shy Toddlers
Poster Number
16B
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Jessica Grady
Faculty Mentor Department
Psychology
Graduate Student Mentor Name
Delaney Callan
Graduate Student Mentor Department
Psychology
Abstract/Artist Statement
Shy children are at higher risk for social adjustment problems, such as poor peer relationships and poor social skills, as well as internalizing behavior problems such as anxiety. These social outcomes appear to vary by child gender. One possible factor that may help reduce these negative outcomes in shy children is activity level. The present study considers the relation between activity level and various social outcomes including internalizing behaviors and social competence in shy boys and girls. It is hypothesized that a higher activity level will be associated with lower internalizing behavior and that this effect is more specific to shy boys than shy girls.
Fifty-five shy 21-24-month-old toddlers engaged in various episodes, two of which included a 5-minute introduction episode and a 3-minute free play episode from the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB). Latency to begin playing, the number of toys manipulated, and vigor level during the freeplay episode were scored. Social competence and internalizing behavior were measured through parent ratings on a survey and observed behavior during the introduction episode.
Preliminary data for 20 participants showed that activity level was correlated with internalizing behaviors, r=.56, p=.01. The correlation between activity level and internalizing behaviors was similar for shy boys (n=8, r=.62) and shy girls (n=12, r=.54). There was a weak correlation between activity level and social competence, r=-.19, p=.41. This association did not differ by gender. Activity level was negatively correlated with observed boldness for boys only (r=-.62, p=.10). Based on the preliminary data analysis, higher activity level does appear to be associated with fewer internalizing behaviors for shy boys and girls, and less observed boldness for shy boys. Results with the full sample will be presented.
Location
DeRosa University Center Ballroom
Start Date
27-4-2018 12:30 PM
End Date
27-4-2018 2:30 PM
Don't Shy Away! Relations Among Activity Level, Gender, and Social Behaviors in Shy Toddlers
DeRosa University Center Ballroom
Shy children are at higher risk for social adjustment problems, such as poor peer relationships and poor social skills, as well as internalizing behavior problems such as anxiety. These social outcomes appear to vary by child gender. One possible factor that may help reduce these negative outcomes in shy children is activity level. The present study considers the relation between activity level and various social outcomes including internalizing behaviors and social competence in shy boys and girls. It is hypothesized that a higher activity level will be associated with lower internalizing behavior and that this effect is more specific to shy boys than shy girls.
Fifty-five shy 21-24-month-old toddlers engaged in various episodes, two of which included a 5-minute introduction episode and a 3-minute free play episode from the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB). Latency to begin playing, the number of toys manipulated, and vigor level during the freeplay episode were scored. Social competence and internalizing behavior were measured through parent ratings on a survey and observed behavior during the introduction episode.
Preliminary data for 20 participants showed that activity level was correlated with internalizing behaviors, r=.56, p=.01. The correlation between activity level and internalizing behaviors was similar for shy boys (n=8, r=.62) and shy girls (n=12, r=.54). There was a weak correlation between activity level and social competence, r=-.19, p=.41. This association did not differ by gender. Activity level was negatively correlated with observed boldness for boys only (r=-.62, p=.10). Based on the preliminary data analysis, higher activity level does appear to be associated with fewer internalizing behaviors for shy boys and girls, and less observed boldness for shy boys. Results with the full sample will be presented.