Shyness and peer interactions in non-social play behaviours among Turkish and American preschool-aged children

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research aims to examine the predictive effect of gender, culture, and shyness on reticence and solitary play behaviour. Fifty children at two U.S. nursery schools and 55 children at a Turkish nursery school were included in the study, with a total of 105 children aged 36–72 months (61 boys, 44 girls). Parent questionnaires were used to assess children temperament, teacher questionnaires to measure playing behaviour and peer relationships, and observations from trained observers to evaluate play behaviour. As data collection tools, the parent form was used to measure the temperament characteristics, the teacher form was used to measure playing behaviour and maladjustment, and observation form was used to evaluate play behaviour. The results showed that in both cultures, shyness was related to asocial behaviour, social withdrawal, reticence, and solitary play. It was also found that culture and gender play an important role in shyness and help in the understanding of reticence and solitary play in preschool-age children.