Perceived Teachers’ Behaviours and Dimensions of Adolescent Self‐concepts

Abstract

The importance of teachers as significant others in the formation and development of children's self‐concepts has been widely recognised. However, the relationships between perceived specific aspects of teacher behaviours and dimensions of adolescents’ self‐concepts have not been sufficiently investigated, especially in Africa. The present study investigated the relationships between perceived teacher behaviours and adolescents’ self‐concepts. The sample included 874 students from four high schools around the metropolitan area of Cape Town, South Africa. The results showed that a significant positive relationship existed between perceived teacher support, interest, encouragement, expectations and participation, and the adolescent family, school and health self‐concepts. The findings underscore the usefulness of employing multidimensional measures in examining the intricate relationship between perceived teacher behaviours and adolescents’ self‐concepts.