Self-Perception Profile of Adolescent Girls at a Single-Sex and a Mixed-Sex School

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between attendance at either a single- or a mixed-sex school and scores on the Self-Perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985). Subjects included 143 Northern Irish adolescent girls from a single-sex secondary school in Belfast and 24 adolescent girls from a mixed-sex secondary school matched for location and religious affiliation. Results indicated that girls from the single-sex school were less happy than girls at the mixed-sex school with respect to their physical appearance, but more satisfied with their behavioral conduct. In addition, physical appearance was the best predictor of global self-worth for girls at the mixed-sex school, whereas behavioral conduct was the best predictor of global self-worth for girls at the single-sex school.