Associations of Behavioral Inhibition Temperament and Children’s Perceived Negative Parenting Attitudes with Children’s Social Anxiety: The Mediating Role of the Need for Validation from Others

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationships of behavioral inhibition temperament and children’s perceived negative parenting attitudes with social anxiety among upper elementary school children, and tested the mediating effect of the need for validation from others in these relationships. Methods: Participants were 394 fifth- and sixth-grade students from three elementary schools in J Province. Data were analyzed using jamovi 2.6. The analyses included descriptive statistics, independent-samples t tests, Pearson correlations, and GLM-based mediation analyses in jAMM controlling for gender. Results: All variables were significantly and positively correlated. Behavioral inhibition temperament and children's perceived negative parenting attitudes significantly predicted social anxiety. Statistically significant indirect effects through the need for validation from others were also observed. Conclusions: These findings suggest that behavioral inhibition tendencies, negative parenting attitudes, and the need for validation from others may be important considerations in preventive counseling and educational interventions for children’s social anxiety.