The influence of social skills and social  anxiety on the perception of likeability in  children

In the current study we investigated whether social anxiety and social skills had an effect on the discrepancy between self-reported and peer reported likeability in children. We expected to find a negative relationship between social anxiety and self-reported likeability, and a positive relationship between social skills and peer-reported likeability, as shown in previous studies. Within this pilot study we used a community sample. Here, 22 children between 8 and 15 years old filled out questionnaires about social anxiety, estimates of their own likeability and how much they liked their classmates. Their teachers completed a questionnaire regarding the children’s social skills. Differences were found between boys and girls, where girls scored significantly higher on social skills. Social skills were positively associated with self- and peer-reported likeability, but not with perception biases (discrepancy scores) on likeability. Social anxiety was not associated with any of the...Show moreIn the current study we investigated whether social anxiety and social skills had an effect on the discrepancy between self-reported and peer reported likeability in children. We expected to find a negative relationship between social anxiety and self-reported likeability, and a positive relationship between social skills and peer-reported likeability, as shown in previous studies. Within this pilot study we used a community sample. Here, 22 children between 8 and 15 years old filled out questionnaires about social anxiety, estimates of their own likeability and how much they liked their classmates. Their teachers completed a questionnaire regarding the children’s social skills. Differences were found between boys and girls, where girls scored significantly higher on social skills. Social skills were positively associated with self- and peer-reported likeability, but not with perception biases (discrepancy scores) on likeability. Social anxiety was not associated with any of the likability scores, which is in contradiction with previous findings, which state that social anxiety is associated with a lower perceived likeability. Since the current study sample was small and contained little variety in social anxiety, more research is needed to better evaluate social skills and likability both in socially anxious and non-anxious children.Show less

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The influence of social skills and social anxiety on the perception of likeability in children