Subtypes of childhood social withdrawal and adult relationship and parenting outcomes

Abstract

The aims of the current 30 year prospective study were to determine: (1) whether socially withdrawn kindergarten children are less likely than others to enter serious romantic relationships or become parents by age 34, (2) whether socially withdrawn children parent differently than non-withdrawn individuals when they grow up, and (3) whether subtypes of withdrawal are associated with different adult outcomes. Following Harrist et al. (1997), 558 kindergarten children (81% White, 17% Black) were categorized into one of the five groups: four clusters of social withdrawal (n = 95 unsociable, 23 passive-anxious, 18 active-isolate, and 25 sad/depressed) or non-withdrawal (n = 397), using directly observed school behavior and teacher ratings. About 30 years later (Mage = 34.45 years, SD = 0.62 years), participants self-reported on their romantic relationship and parent status and parenting warmth and harshness. Overall, the group of socially withdrawn children was no more or less likely than the non-withdrawn group to be in a current relationship or a parent, nor did they report any differences in parenting. However, the active-isolate subtype of social withdrawal, characterized by impulsivity and anger, was less likely than the non-withdrawn group to be in a current relationship (B = −1.24, p < 0.05). This study suggests socially withdrawn children in the United States fare similarly to non-withdrawn peers in adulthood in their romantic relationships and parenting, but a subgroup of active-isolate children may be at risk of not entering adult relationships.