Abstract

As a part of a longitudinal research conducted on adolescents attending the Senior High School of Genzano (Rome), the present study aimed to explore relations among: a) shyness and loneliness; and shyness and loneliness with b) the Big Five Personality Factors; c)different indicators of well-being and of social adjustment; d) emotional and interpersonal efficacy beliefs (personal beliefs to deal effectively with negative and positive emotions, familial relations and social relations efficacy beliefs concerning). Subjects were 385,186 males and 199 females (mean age: 15.12). A model of relations has been tested using Structural Equations Models technique. Results shows protective influence of emotional and interpersonal efficacy beliefs on shyness and loneliness two years later.