Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Anxiety and Peer Relations in Early Adolescence: Behavioral and Cognitive Factors

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated factors associated with social anxiety during early adolescence using multiple informants, including self and peer perspectives, teacher ratings, and direct observations. Negative social performance expectations, maladaptive coping strategies, and social skill deficits were examined as correlates of social anxiety and mediators linking social anxiety with poor peer relations. Participants were 84 middle school students (47 girls, 37 boys) over-sampled for elevated social anxiety. Analyses revealed correlations linking social anxiety with decreased peer acceptance and increased peer victimization. Path analysis indicated that negative social performance expectations and social withdrawal-disengagement accounted for the association between social anxiety and decreased peer acceptance. Social anxiety, self-directed coping strategies, and social withdrawal-disengagement were each directly linked with increased peer victimization for boys. The results replicate findings based on clinical samples, extend understanding of cognitive, social, and behavioral factors associated with social anxiety in middle school, and provide new information regarding gender differences in the correlates of social anxiety.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alfano, C. A., Beidel, D. C., & Turner, S. M. (2006). Cognitive correlates of social phobia among children and adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 34, 189–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arbuckle, J., & Wothke, W. (1999). AMOS 4.0 user’s reference guide. Chicago: Smallwaters Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beidel, D. C. (1991). Social phobia and overanxious disorder in school-age children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 545–552.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beidel, D. C., & Turner, S. M. (1998). Shy children, phobic adults: Nature and treatment of social phobia. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beidel, D. C., Turner, S. M., & Morris, T. L. (1999). Psychopathology of childhood social phobia. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 643–650.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bierman, K. L. (2004). Peer rejection: Developmental processes and intervention strategies. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogels, S. M., & Zigterman, D. (2000). Dysfunctional cognitions in children with social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28, 205–211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boivin, M., Hymel, S., & Bukowski, W. M. (1995). The roles of social withdrawal, peer rejection, and victimization by peers in predicting loneliness and depressed mood in childhood. Development and Psychopathology, 7, 765–785.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borg, M. G. (1999). The extent and nature of bullying among primary and secondary schoolchildren. Educational Research, 41, 137–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulton, M. J. (1999). Concurrent and longitudinal relations between children’s playground behavior and social preference, victimization, and bullying. Child Development, 70, 944–954.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright-Hatton, S., Hodges, L., & Porter, J. (2003). Social anxiety in childhood: The relationship with self and observer rated social skills. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44, 737–744.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright-Hatton, S., Tschernitz, N., & Gomersall, H. (2005). Social anxiety in children: Social skills deficit, or cognitive distortion? Behavioral Research & Therapy, 43, 131–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caspi, A., Elder, G. H., & Bem, D. J. (1988). Moving away from the world: Life-course patterns of shy children. Developmental Psychology, 24, 824–831.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chansky, T. E., & Kendall, P. C. (1997). Social expectations and self-perceptions in anxiety-disordered children. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 11, 347–363.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. (1983). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd edn.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B. E., Connor-Smith, J. K., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A. H., & Wadsworth, M. E. (2001). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 87–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (1992). A developmental and clinical model for the prevention of conduct disorder: The Fast Track program. Development and Psychopathology, 4, 509–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (1997). Social Health Profile and TOCA-R: Technical Report. Unpublished manuscript.

  • Craig, W. M., Pepler, D. A., Connolly, J., & Henderson, K. (2001). Developmental context of peer harassment in early adolescence. In J. Juvonen & S. Graham (Eds.), Peer harassment in school: The plight of the vulnerable and victimized (pp. 242–261). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crick, N. R., & Dodge, K. A. (1994). A review and reformulation of social information-processing mechanisms in children’s social adjustment. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 74–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epkins, C. C. (2002). A comparison of two self-report measures of children’s social anxiety in clinical and community samples. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 31, 69–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ge, X., Lorenz, F. O., Conger, R. D., Elder, G. H., & Simmons, R. L. (1994). Trajectories of stressful life events and depressive symptoms during adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 30, 467–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guevremont, D. (1990). Social skills and peer relationship training. In R. A. Barkley (Ed.), Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (pp. 540–572). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawley, P. H. (1999). The ontogenesis of social dominance: A strategy-based evolutionary perspective. Developmental Review, 19, 97–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, E. V. E., & Perry, D. G. (1999). Personal and interpersonal antecedents and consequences of victimization by peers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 677–685.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inderbitzen, H. M., Walters, K. S., & Bukowski, A. L. (1997). The role of social anxiety in adolescent peer relations: Differences among sociometric status groups and rejected subgroups. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 26, 338–348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Inderbitzen-Nolan, H. M., & Walters, K. S. (2000). Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents: Normative data and further evidence of construct validity. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 29, 360–371.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. L., & Glass, C. R. (1989). Heterosocial anxiety and direction of attention in high school boys. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 13, 509–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., & Lopez, N. (1998). Social anxiety among adolescents: Linkages with peer relations and friendships. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26, 83–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., & Stone, W. (1993). Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised: Factor structure and concurrent validity. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 22, 17–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, G. W., & Profilet, S. M. (1996). The Child Behavior Scale: A teacher-report measure of young children’s aggressive, withdrawn, and prosocial behaviors. Developmental Psychology, 32, 1008–1024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lansford, J. E., & Parker, J. G. (1999). Children’s interactions in tryads: Behavioral profiles and effects of gender and patterns of friendship among members. Developmental Psychology, 35, 80–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E. E. (1998). The two sexes: Growing up apart, coming together. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markovits, H., Benenson, J., & Dolenszky, E. (2001). Evidence that children and adolescents have internal models of peer interactions that are gender differentiated. Child Development, 72, 879–886.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mancini, C., Van Ameringen, M., Bennett, M., Patterson, B., & Watson, C. (2005). Emerging treatments for child and adolescent social phobia: A review. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 15, 589–607.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J., & Banerjee, R. (2006). Social anxiety and self-evaluation of social performance in a nonclinical sample of children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 35, 292–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, T. L. (2001). Social phobia. In M. W. Vasey & M. R. Dadds (Eds.) The developmental psychopathology of anxiety (pp. 435–458). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, P., & Masten, A. S. (1991). Peer reputation in middle childhood as a predictor of adaptation in adolescence: A seven-year follow-up. Child Development, 62, 991–1007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muris, P., Merckelbach, H., & Damsma, E. (2000). Threat perception bias in nonreferred socially anxious children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 29, 348–359.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nansel, T. R., Overbeck, M., Pilla, R. S., Ruan, W. J., Simon-Morton, B., & Scheidt, P. (2001). Bullying behaviors among US youth: Prevalance and association with psychosocial adjustment. Journal of the American Medical Association, 285(16), 2094–2100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nishina, A., Juvonen, J., & Witkow, M. R. (2005). Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will make me feel sick: The psychosocial, somatic, and scholastic consequences of peer harassment. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 37–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, J. G., Rubin, K. H., Erath, S. A., Wojslawowicz, J. C., & Buskirk, A. A. (2006). Peer relationships, child development, and adjustment: A developmental psychopathology perspective. In D. Cicchetti & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology: Vol. 1: Theory and Methods (2nd edn., pp. 96–161). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrini, A. D., & Bartini, M. (2001). Dominance in early adolescent boys: Affiliative and aggressive dimensions and possible functions. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 47, 142–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rapee, R. M., & Heimberg, R. G. (1997). A cognitive-behavioral model of anxiety in social phobia. Behavior Research and Therapy, 35, 741–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rheingold, A. A., Herbert, J. D., & Franklin, M. E. (2003). Cognitive bias in adolescents with social anxiety disorder. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 27, 639–655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, A. J., & Rudolph, K. D. (2006). A review of sex differences in peer relationship processes: Potential trade-offs for the emotional and behavioral development of girls and boys. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 98–131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, K. H., & Burgess, K. B. (2001). Social withdrawal and anxiety. In M. W. Vasey & M. R. Dadds (Eds.), The developmental psychopathology of anxiety (pp. 407–434). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seiffge-Krenke, I., & Schulman, S. (1993). Stress, coping, and relationships in adolescence. In S. Jackson & H. Rodriquesz-Tome (Eds.), Adolescence and its social worlds (pp. 169–196). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Southam-Gerow, M. A., & Kendall, P. C. (2000). A preliminary study of the emotion understanding of youths referred for treatment of anxiety disorders. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 29, 319–327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spence, S. H., Donovan, C., & Brechman-Toussaint, M. (1999). Social skills, social outcomes, and cognitive features of childhood social phobia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 211–221.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., Brassard, M. R., & Masia-Warner, C. L. (2003). The relationship of peer victimization to social anxiety and loneliness in adolescence. Child Study Journal, 33, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., & Masia-Warner, C. (2004). The relationship of peer victimization to social anxiety and loneliness in adolescent females. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 351–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., Masia-Warner, C., Dent, H. C., Roberti, J. W., & Fisher, P. H. (2004). Psychometric evaluation of the social anxiety scale for adolescents and the social phobia and anxiety inventory for children: Construct validity and normative data. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 18, 665–679.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suveg, C., & Zeman, J. (2004). Emotion regulation in children with anxiety disorders. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33, 750–759.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vasey, M. W., & Daleiden, E. L. (1996). Information-processing pathways to cognitive interference in childhood. In I. G. Sarason, G. Pierce, & B. Sarason (Eds.), Cognitive interference: Theory, methods, and findings (pp. 117–138). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vernberg, E. M., Abwender, D. A., Ewell, K. K., & Beery, S. H. (1992). Social anxiety and peer relationships in early adolescence: A prospective analysis. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21, 189–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waas, G. A., & Graczyk, P. A. (1999). Child behaviors leading to peer rejection: A view from the peer group. Child Study Journal, 29, 291–307.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to express appreciation to the parents, students, counselors, and teachers at Bellefonte and Tyrone Middle Schools for their cooperation and participation. We also thank Jason Baker, Kelly M. Flanagan, George Lauck, Erin Plute, and Rebecca Wysong for their assistance with data collection and coding, and Jeffrey Parker for his insightful comments on a previous draft of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Stephen A. Erath & Karen L. Bierman

  2. Department of Psychology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA

    Kelly S. Flanagan

  3. Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University, 203 Spidle Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    Stephen A. Erath

Authors
  1. Stephen A. Erath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kelly S. Flanagan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karen L. Bierman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen A. Erath.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Erath, S.A., Flanagan, K.S. & Bierman, K.L. Social Anxiety and Peer Relations in Early Adolescence: Behavioral and Cognitive Factors. J Abnorm Child Psychol 35, 405–416 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-007-9099-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-007-9099-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation