Van Zalk, Nejra, Kerr, Margaret and Tilton-Weaver, Lauree (2011) Shyness as a moderator of the link between advanced maturity and early adolescent risk behavior. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 52 (4). pp. 341-353. ISSN 0036-5564 (Print), 1467-9450 (Online) (doi:10.1111/j.1467-9450.2011.00877.x)

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Abstract

Advanced maturity in early adolescence has previously been linked with several risk behaviors. In this study, we examine whether shyness and gender might moderate this link. The participants were 750 early adolescents (Mage = 13.73; 390 girls and 360 boys), followed for one year. We conducted analyses with shyness and gender as moderators of the links between advanced maturity and different types of risk behavior, and between one risk behavior and another. Despite differential patterns for boys and girls, the results suggest that being shy or not being shy modifies the links between advanced maturity and risk behavior primarily for boys. For boys, shyness reduces relationships between advanced maturity and risk behavior, whereas not being shy exacerbates the relationships between advanced maturity and high-risk behavior. Controlling for romantic involvement and peer victimization did not alter the moderating effects, thus failing to support the idea that the weaker links for shy youths were due to shy youths not being drawn into advanced peer groups by romantic partners or peers. Thus, shyness might serve as a buffer against risk behavior in early adolescence.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Shyness; Drunkenness; Intercourse; High-risk behaviour; Early adolescence
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Applied Psychology Research Group Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	25 Oct 2016 13:40
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/15893

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