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Need for approval and children's well-being.
Karen D Rudolph1, Melissa S Caldwell, Colleen S Conley
1Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61820, USA. krudolph@uiuc.edu
Child Development
|March 24, 2005
Summary
Children’s self-worth based on peer approval has both positive and negative effects on well-being. These impacts vary by approval dimension, psychological domain, and individual factors like age and victimization experiences.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Children's self-worth is often influenced by peer approval.
- Understanding the dual nature of this influence is crucial for child well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between basing self-worth on peer approval and children's well-being.
- To explore the positive and negative aspects of this association.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 153 children (grades 4-8) on need for approval, self-worth, social concerns, anxiety, depression, and victimization.
- Collected teacher reports on social behavior.
Main Results:
- Need for approval is a two-dimensional construct: positive (approval enhances self-worth) and negative (disapproval diminishes self-worth).
- Trade-offs in well-being were observed, dependent on the approval dimension, psychological domain (emotional/social), child's sex/age, and peer victimization levels.
Conclusions:
- The impact of seeking peer approval on children's well-being is complex and multifaceted.
- Interventions should consider the specific dimension of approval-seeking and individual child characteristics.