Social Withdrawal and Social Isolation in Adolescents with or at Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aims to identify, synthesize, and critically appraise quantitative evidence on social withdrawal subtypes (shyness, unsociability, avoidance) and social isolation among adolescents ages 13–18 with or at risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). The review addresses three research questions: 1. What is the reported prevalence of social withdrawal subtypes and social isolation in this population? 2. How do these constructs relate to psychosocial characteristics and academic performance? 3. To what extent do they predict later outcomes, and what is the quality of this evidence?