Introduction Appropriate psychological distance is vital for good relationships. However, the influence of individual factors on this distance remains poorly understood across various social contexts. This study investigated how social skills and trait shyness relate to psychological distance toward different targets (mother, closest friend, and acquaintance) among female university students. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 170 female students (Mean age = 19.3) recruited via convenience sampling. Participants completed the Kikuchi’s Social Skill Scale-18, the Trait Shyness Scale, and a psychological distance scale. Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses examined the predictors of distance for each target. Results Psychological distance toward mothers was significantly associated with lower social skills ( r = −0.27, p 0.001), confirmed in the multiple regression analysis ( β = −0.35, p = 0.002). For closest friends, psychological distance correlated with lower social skills ( r = −0.18, p = 0.023) and higher trait shyness ( r = 0.15, p = 0.049); however, no significant predictors emerged in the regression analysis. Regarding acquaintances, correlations were found with lower social skills ( r = −0.30, p 0.001) and higher trait shyness ( r = 0.25, p = 0.001), though the regression analysis indicated only social skills remained a significant predictor ( β = −0.24, p = 0.033). Discussion The influence of social skills and shyness on psychological distance varies by target. Notably, social skills play a more crucial role than trait shyness in maintaining appropriate psychological distance, even in highly intimate relationships like that with one’s mother.
Fukutake et al. (Wed,) studied this question.