1-039 - Individual and Relational Factors Associated with Social Withdrawal and Internalizing Problems from Childhood to Adolescence.

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

The term social withdrawal is an “umbrella construct” capturing internal motivations for removing oneself from social interaction. Withdrawn behaviors that reflect fear and anxiety have been repeatedly linked with internalizing problems. Hence, there is a need to continue to examine factors that might contribute to the struggles of fearfully withdrawn children. The purpose of this symposium is to examine the linguistic, socio-cognitive, and relational factors that might be associated with fearful, anxious withdrawal and its association with internalizing problems from early childhood to early adolescence.
Paper 1 examines differences between young children who display observed forms of withdrawal (i.e., reticent, solitary-passive, and solitary-active behaviors) and non-withdrawn children in regard to language capacities. Results show that reticent children display lower levels of language competence than their peers. Paper 2 assesses the role of socio-cognitive competence and language factors in predicting anxious-withdrawal among a sample of Chinese American preschoolers. Paper 3 examines the longitudinal associations of friendship instability on depressive symptoms for anxious-solitary children. Findings underscore the challenges that anxious-solitary children have in making friends and the role that instability in friendships can play in predicting internalizing problems. Paper 4 likewise examines the role of friendships (stability and quality) for anxiously-withdrawn early adolescents. Results demonstrate, especially for boys, longitudinal associations between anxious withdrawal and depression for those without friends but also show the protective role of having a friend. Taken together, the papers in this symposium elucidate some of the linguistic, socio-cognitive, and relational challenges facing fearful, anxious children and adolescents.

Sub Unit

• Social Relationships

Chairs

• Brandon Neil Clifford, Brigham Young University

• Larry J. Nelson, Brigham Young University

Individual Presentations

• “Speak up!”: An examination of the language capacities of children displaying various forms of social withdrawal - Presenting Author: Brandon Neil Clifford, Brigham Young University; Larry J. Nelson, Brigham Young University

• Individual Characteristics Associated with Anxious-withdrawal among Young Chinese American Children - Presenting Author: Jing Yu, UMBC; Lisa Shanty, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Charissa S. L. Cheah, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Craig H. Hart, Brigham Young University

• Close Friendship Stability of Anxious Solitary Children: Predicting Depressive Symptom Trajectories from Third to Seventh Grade - Deborah Ong, The University of Melbourne; Presenting Author: Heidi Gazelle, University of Melbourne; Madelynn D. Shell, The University of Virginia's College at Wise

• Protective Benefits of Friendship for Anxious-Withdrawn Adolescents: A Focus on Psychological Adjustment - Presenting Author: Andrea Markovic, University of Buffalo, SUNY; Julie C Bowker, University at Buffalo, SUNY