In summary, the literature we have reviewed suggests that the quality of life for shy and
socially withdrawn children is less than pleasant. Withdrawn children are socially deferent,
anxious, lonely, rejected and insecure in the company of peers. They fail to exhibit ageappropriate
interpersonal problem-solving skills and tend to believe themselves to be deficient in
social skills and relationships. The home lives of shy and withdrawn children are no more
comforting: they tend to have insecure attachment relationships with their mothers and they are
recipients of overcontrolling, intrusive parenting. Taken together, these characteristics do not
augur well for socially withdrawn children. As such, researchers would do well to be more active
in developing ameliorative, if not preventive interventions for these children.