Few studies have investigated the importance of desired friendships for those experiencing social difficulties, and no study to date has investigated desired affiliates as a type of relationship distinct from desired friendships. The current study examined the perceived, as well as desired, friends and affiliates of shy-withdrawn children and if the characteristics of desired friends and affiliates predict social dissatisfaction. Specifically, we investigated if shy-withdrawn children choose friends and affiliates based on a 'homophily' effect or due to a 'leftover' effect. Shy-withdrawal was operationalized as a combination of peer-reported anxious-withdrawal and teacher-reported shy-anxiousness for the 488 fourth and fifth grade children comprising the sample. Peer-report was used to examine the social characteristics (anxious-withdrawal, likability, popularity) of participants' self-reported perceived and desired friends and affiliates. Participants self-reported their dyadic and network social dissatisfaction. Results indicated that although shy-withdrawal is associated with a desire for more friends and affiliates, any child who listed at least one desired friend or affiliate was more socially dissatisfied. Shy-withdrawn children did not desire relationships with similarly anxious children nor did they desire relationships with well-liked students or popular students. However, shy-withdrawal was associated with having perceived friends characterized as anxious-withdrawn, especially for girls and those not of the majority-race. The relation between shy-withdrawal and social dissatisfaction was not moderated by the characteristics of desired friends and affiliates. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]