How do preschool children feel about themselves? Unraveling measurement and multidimensional self-concept structure.

Full Abstract

Theoretical models suggest that 4- and 5-year-old children should be able to differentiate between multiple dimensions of self-concept, but empirical support is limited. A new 38-item Self Description Questionnaire for Preschoolers (SDQP) that measures 6 self-concept factors (Physical, Appearance, Peers, Parents, Verbal, and Math) was developed and tested. Through an individual-interview procedure, young children (4.0-5.6 years) completed the SDQP and achievement tests. The self-concept scales were reliable (.75-.89), first-order and higher order confirmatory factor analysis models fit the data, and factor correlations were mostly moderate (-.03-.73; Mdn = .29). Achievement test scores correlated modestly with academic self-concept factors (rs = .15-40) but were nonsignificantly or significantly negatively related to nonacademic self-concepts. The results contribute to the critical debate about the validity of self-reports for preschool children, who distinguished between multiple dimensions of self-concept at an even younger age than suggested by previous self-concept research.

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Author information

Author/s: Marsh, Herbert W (HW); Ellis, Louise A (LA); Craven, Rhonda G (RG);

Affiliation: SELF Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia. h.marsh(-atsign-)uws.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Developmental psychology (Dev Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-May; vol 38 (issue 3) : pp 376-93

Dates: Created 2002/05/13; Completed 2002/11/07; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12005381, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Achievement
Child Behavior - psychology
Child, Preschool
Cognition
Female

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