Intimate Introverts: Influence of Introversion on Self-Disclosure and Emotional Intimacy in Close Friendships

Abstract

Social isolation is identified as a leading cause of loneliness, contributing to negative physical and mental health outcomes. Friendships developed or maintained in emerging adulthood can set the stage for social support and emotional well-being that individuals experience throughout their lifespan. Understanding the social and psychological mechanisms related to developing and maintaining these social connections may provide insight into solutions for many social problems. Introverted individuals tend to have fewer social contacts due to having a lower threshold for the energy required to fuel social interactions, impacting the development and maintenance of friendships. This study clarifies how trait introversion contributes to friendship intimacy, which may affect the strength and longevity of these important interpersonal relationships. Responses from 519 college-aged women from large southeastern university in the United States to the Friendship Qualities Scale, Emotional Self-Disclosure Scale, and the Aloof-Introverted subscale of the IPIP measure were analyzed. Results indicated that introversion had a significant negative correlation with both friendship qualities and emotional self-disclosure. Thus, introverts reported reduced levels of overall friendship intimacy. The current study offers a theoretical framework to shed light on factors contributing to the epidemic of loneliness among young adults. Consequently, we may gain insight into mitigating this issue by examining how individual characteristics impact interpersonal behaviors, resulting in diminished social and emotional connections.