Development of self-monitoring behavior from early to late adolescence

The purpose of this study was to examine the development of self-monitoring behavior during adolescence. Due to limitations of the widely used Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (Lennox & Wolfe, 1984), the construct of self-monitoring has not been successfully examined in individuals younger than college age. For the purpose of expanding our knowledge regarding the developmental aspects of self-monitoring, the Adolescent Self-Monitoring Scale (ASMS) was developed, administered to young (junior high) adolescents, and found to be internally consistent and highly correlated with the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale. Factor analysis identified two subscales: (1) Ability to Modify Self-Presentation and (2) Sensitivity to Expressive Behavior of Others. An examination of 490 adolescents from 12 to 18 years of age provided support for the hypothesis that self-monitoring behavior does increase from early to late adolescence. ANOVAs produced a significant difference by age in overall self-monitoring behavior and in sensitivity to the expressive behavior of others. No age differences in the ability to modify self-presentation were found. The development of behavioral measures is suggested to determine more accurately the developmental aspects of the ability to modify self-presentation.