Passive Students in Junior High School: The Associations with Shyness, Perceived Competence and Social Support

Relationships between passivity in school and shyness, perceived competencies and social support were assessed in a sample of 501 pupils (241 girls and 240 boys) in grades 8, 9 and 10 from two secondary schools in a city in the southern part of Norway. The analyses revealed a positive significant association between passivity in school and shyness. Findings also showed significant negative associations between passivity in school and scores of perceived social competence. Support from school peers, teachers and parents were also negatively associated with passivity. In addition the interaction between gender and perceived social competence yielded a significant association with school passivity.