Abstract
Associations between parent–child relationships and adolescents’ shyness are well documented, but relatively little is known about the role of siblings. This three-wave longitudinal research examined reciprocal associations between parental and sibling warmth and adolescents’ shyness in China. One hundred and fifty Chinese adolescents (Mage = 12.84 years; 56.7% girls) participated. Data were collected from multiple sources including self-reports and peer assessments. Cross-lagged model analyses revealed unique longitudinal paths from sibling warmth to adolescents’ shyness and from adolescents’ shyness to sibling warmth. Moreover, no cross-lagged paths existed between fathers’ and mothers’ warmth and adolescents’ shyness. The results suggest that sibling relationships may be a unique social context for socialization and development among Chinese adolescents.