Age, Race, and Gender Differences in Child and Adolescent Self-Concept: Evidence from a Behavioral-Acquisition, Context-Dependent Model

Abstract

Age, race, and gender differences were examined in global and domain-specific self-concepts among 2,188 American children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 years. Although a few statistically significant effects of age, race, and gender on global and domain-specific self-concepts were found, the differences appeared to be of little qualitative or clinical significance. Self-concept appears to be a construct that is influenced very little by demographic characteristics of an individual. However, further investigations of multidimensional self-concept (especially longitudinal) are necessary to provide additional support for the claim that global and domain-specific self-concepts are minimally influenced by important human conditions such as age, race, and gender.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

R. Michelle Grain

R. Michelle Crain, MA, is a doctoral student in the School Psychology Program at The University of Memphis.

Bruce A. Bracken

Bruce A. Bracken, PhD, is a Professor of psychology at the University of Memphis. His research interests include issues related to construct refinement and psychoeducational assessment.