The purpose of this study was to explore the developmental patterns of self-concept of pre-adolescents and adolescents by using longitudinal data originated by the Korean Institute for Research in the Behavioral Sciences (KIRBS). Specifically, using S...
The purpose of this study was to explore the developmental patterns of self-concept of pre-adolescents and adolescents by using longitudinal data originated by the Korean Institute for Research in the Behavioral Sciences (KIRBS). Specifically, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the effects of parents and peer groups on the stability and change of self-concept across a 9-year-period were examined.
The study consisted of two major parts. In study 1, 62 participants (29 boys and 33 girls) from the longitudinal data were examined to identify the relative influence of parents and peers on self-concept across three developmental periods: 1st grade (7 years of age), 4th grade (10 years of age), and 1st year of high school (16 years of age). The purpose of study 2 was to verify the validity of the construct of self-concept of high school students compared to the original longitudinal data. A total of 198 (94 boys and 104 girls) first year high school students participated in this study. For data analysis, Pearsons correlation and SEM were used to explore the fitness of model for the development of self-concept.
The major results were as follows. First, as anticipated, positive parenting and supportive peer relationships revealed a strong relationship with positive self-concept development. The results in study 1 were found in study 2 as well implying that adequate parenting and favorable peer relationships could be crucial social environmental factors for the development of adolescent self-concept.
Second, the influence of peer relationships revealed consistent effects on self-concept from pre-adolescence to mid-adolescence. Specifically, this influence was most evident at 7 years of age and at 16 years of age. However, parental influence was almost non-existent for 7 year olds, equivalent to peer relationships for 10 year olds, and decreased for 16 year olds. These patterns of parenting and peer relationship influence were found to be similar in study 2. In fact, peer relationships had more influence than parenting on self-concept development. This implies that peer relationships are important in self-concept development from childhood to adolescence.
On the whole, the parental and peer influence on self-concept gradually decrease in adolescence. Nevertheless, parental and peer influence continue to maintain a certain level of influence from childhood to adolescence. These findings imply that as children get older and begin to establish an identity and develop independence, peer relationships and parenting are less influential on self-concept development among children compared to pre-adolescents. However, again, peer relationships and parenting continue to have a certain level of influence on self-concept development.
Third, results showed that the individual differences in self-concept was relatively stable. Results by SEM also revealed same characteristic models and structural continuity of self-concept. That is, the self-concept appears to have stable characteristics regardless of the environmental or time sequence factors.
This study was the first attempt in examining self-concept development using longitudinal data in Korea. This study was also able to examine the stability and change of self-concept as a function of parenting and peer relationship influence with SEM. In doing so, this study was able to provide an understanding of developmental change and stability in the self-concept of Korean adolescents.