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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

Published on: March 1, 2019

Self-esteem accuracy and externalizing problems in preschool-aged boys.

Jaimi L Mathias¹, Sara J W Biebl, Lisabeth F Dilalla

¹Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.

The Journal of Genetic Psychology

|September 10, 2011

Summary

Preschool boys who overestimate their abilities and social acceptance show more externalizing behaviors later. This suggests overconfidence in self-esteem may predict future behavioral issues in young children.

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Area of Science:

Child Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Behavioral Science

Background:

Existing research on self-esteem and externalizing problems lacks consistency.
Accuracy in self-esteem assessment is a potential moderating factor.
Limited research exists on this relationship in preschool-aged children.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the link between self-esteem rating accuracy and externalizing problems in 5-year-old boys.
To compare externalizing behaviors among underraters, realistic raters, and overraters of self-esteem.
To examine this relationship across cognitive competence, physical competence, and peer acceptance domains.

Main Methods:

Study involved 5-year-old boys.
Classified children as underraters, realistic raters, or overraters of self-esteem.
Compared self-ratings with teacher ratings of competence and peer acceptance.

Main Results:

Boys overrating cognitive competence were more likely to exhibit externalizing problems.
Overrating peer acceptance also predicted increased externalizing problems.
These associations were observed in comparison to teacher-assessed competence.

Conclusions:

Overconfidence in self-esteem may be an early indicator of externalizing problems.
Findings highlight the importance of accurate self-perception in early childhood development.
Implications for understanding the trajectory of behavioral issues in young children.