Developmental stability of scholastic, social, athletic, and physical appearance self‐concepts from preschool to early adulthood

Abstract

Background Self‐concept has meaningful relations with psychological functioning and well‐being across the life span. Hence, it is important to understand how and when individual differences in multiple domains of self‐concept begin to stabilize and whether individual differences remain stable throughout childhood and adolescence and into early adulthood. Methods We assessed individuals’ (N = 372) scholastic, social, athletic, and physical appearance self‐concepts at five waves over 20 years from age 4 to age 24. Results In general, stability was large, but medium‐sized estimates were obtained for some domains over longer (e.g., 6‐year) intervals. Indirect effects from preschool to early adulthood were small, but from age 14 to 24 were medium to large. Stabilities maintained significance independent of family socioeconomic status and global self‐worth. Stability estimates were similar for boys and girls except over adolescence for scholastic self‐concept, which was more stable for girls than boys. Conclusions Multiple domains of self‐concept constitute stable individual‐difference characteristics, independent of global feelings of self‐worth. Individuals who have high or low self‐concepts early in development tend to maintain their relative standing into early adulthood suggesting points of intervention.

Physical Self-Concept, Gender, and Physical Condition of Bizkaia University Students

“…The benefits that physical exercise offers have always been an extremely attractive topic in the field of health and quality of life, especially in university-age people, which is a crucial time period for adhering to definitive habits that will be maintained in adult life [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Therefore, physical self-concept is relevant, as people’s motivation to continue being physically active is influenced by their perception of physical self-concept, as it changes because of physical activity [ 30 ].…”

“…It is related to psychological functioning and well-being throughout life. Therefore, it is important to understand how and when the self-concept’s different domains begin to stabilize, and whether they remain stable throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood [ 21 ].…”

Physical Self-Concept Changes in Adults and Older Adults: Influence of Emotional Intelligence, Intrinsic Motivation and Sports Habits

“…Some prominent longitudinal studies, such as Amesberguer et al [30], Finkenzeller et al [31], or Sweeney et al [19], show that PSC is stable or slightly decreasing. Among the cross-sectional studies reviewed, Esnaola [32] reported an increase in PSC with age, while Infante et al [33], Molero et al [34], and Putnick et al [35], reported that it remains stable.…”

Emotion, Psychological Well-Being and Their Influence on Resilience. A Study with Semi-Professional Athletes

“…Finally, the results of this study also showed that self-determined motivation positively predicted resilience (Hypothesis 5). However, as highlighted by Putnick, Hahn, Hendricks, and Bornstein [64], no empirical evidence can be found in the literature which relates self-motivation to resilience, despite the existence of studies that link self-motivation to personal well-being, on both emotional and cognitive levels [65]. This connection seems logical, as athletes who display self-motivation will be able to cope with various adverse and potentially stressful circumstances they may encounter over the course of their athletic career, thanks to high and significant levels of effort, consistency, dedication, and sacrifice.…”