Abstract

This study examined the development of shyness in 37 children (20 boys and 17 girls) followed longitudinally from the first months of life, analyzing maternal responsiveness at 16 months as a possible mediator in the relationship between fear of novelty at 4 months and shyness at 16 months. Data were collected at two different time points. At time 1 (age 4 months), mothers were asked to provide some sociodemographic information and to complete an infant temperament questionnaire. At time 2 (age 16 months), families were visited at home in order to observe the child's behavior in front of an unfamiliar adult and maternal responsiveness in a naturalistic setting. In addition, toddlers' shyness was assessed through a temperament questionnaire. Results show that 1) there is a relation between fear of novelty at 4 months and shyness at 16 months; 2) there is a concurrent relation between toddlers' shy behavior and maternal responsive behavior at 16 months; 3) the relation between fear of novelty at 4 months and shyness at 16 months is mediated by maternal responsiveness assessed at 16 months when the child is confronted with an unfamiliar adult.