Family Independence Moderates the Effect of Shyness on Internalizing Symptoms of Chilren: Six-Year Follow-up

• Main Authors: Pei-Fang Chien, 簡佩芳
• Other Authors: Huei-Chen Ko
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/05663800877253638211

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 行為醫學研究所 === 96 === 【Purpose】 This longitudinal study was designed to investigate whether family independence in preschool or school-age moderated the effect of shyness on internalizing symptoms among school-aged children. 【Method】 According to the 2001 to 2002 population census of children from ages 4- to 6-years-old, a stratified and random sampling method was used to select study participants from the health centers of the seven districts within Tainan City, Taiwan. The participants were followed-up six years later. One hundred and twenty-five parent-child dyads (68 boys, 57 girls) were recruited in the final sample. Parents completed the measure of children’s development (CCDI), family independence (FFS), and children’s internalizing symptoms (CBECL/4-16) at T1; family independence (FFS), shyness temperament (EAS), and children’s internalizing symptoms (CBECL/4-16) at T2. 【Results】 The present study found that family independence in school age was negatively associated with current internalizing symptoms, when child’s gender, age, general development, prior internalizing symptoms in preschool age, and the annual family income during school age were controlled in all analyses. The results also found that family independence during preschool age moderated the relation between shyness and internalizing symptoms in school-aged children. Further analyses showed that for children with high levels of family independence, higher levels of shyness led to an increment of internalizing symptoms later on in life. However, for children with a low or medium level of family independence in preschool age, shyness was unrelated to internalizing symptoms in school-aged children. 【Conclusions and suggestions】 This study indicated that apart from shyness, family independence should also be considered in preventive intervention. Family members should help shy preschool-age children overcome difficulties and assist them in making suitable decisions in the time of need; in turn, such efforts may allow the child to perceive warmth and acceptance, which served as a protective factor for the internalizing symptoms later on in life. However, for school-age children, family members should respect their children’s own privacy; encourage school-age children to make decisions by them self and to be independent. All suggestions mentioned above should be further examined in future studies.