Research conducted in Western cultures such as the United States has shown that shyness is a risk factor in development. Much less is known, however, about the role of shyness during emerging adulthood in China. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between shyness and internalizing (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-harm) and externalizing (e.g., drinking, smoking, and illicit drugs) behaviors in emerging adults in China. Participants included 616 undergraduate students (368 men and 248 women). Results revealed that shyness was positively associated with higher levels of internalizing problems.
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