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Self-concept in Lebanese and Arab-American pre-adolescents
1Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Indianapolis, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227, USA. halkhateeb@uindy.edu
Psychological Reports
|June 8, 2010
Summary
Arab-American pre-adolescents demonstrated higher self-concept than their peers in Lebanon. Biculturalism appears to positively influence self-concept development in youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
Background:
- Self-concept is a critical aspect of adolescent development.
- Cultural background can significantly shape self-perception and self-esteem.
- Previous research suggests biculturalism may be linked to enhanced self-concept.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the self-concept of Arab-American pre-adolescents with that of Arab national students in Lebanon.
- To investigate the potential influence of biculturalism on self-concept.
Main Methods:
- Marsh's Self-description Questionnaire-I was administered to assess self-concept.
- A comparative analysis was conducted between two groups of pre-adolescents.
- Participants included 102 Arab-American students and 105 Arab students from Lebanon.
Main Results:
- Arab-American students reported significantly higher self-concept scores than Lebanese Arab students.
- The differences were notable across six subscales: physical ability, physical appearance, peer relations, reading, general school, and general self-concept.
- No significant differences were observed in the remaining two subscales.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that biculturalism is associated with a higher self-concept.
- Cultural experiences and identity formation play a crucial role in adolescent self-perception.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying this association.
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