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Implicit and Explicit Self-Esteem Discrepancies, Victimization and the Development of Late Childhood Internalizing
Franca H Leeuwis1, Hans M Koot, Daan H M Creemers
1Department of Developmental Psychology and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, F.H.Leeuwis@vu.nl.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|November 19, 2014
Summary
Peer victimization increases damaged self-esteem in children, predicting internalizing problems. This damaged self-esteem may explain why victimized children develop these issues.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Discrepancies between implicit and explicit self-esteem are linked to internalizing problems in adolescents and adults.
- Longitudinal research on this association in children is limited.
- Peer victimization is a known risk factor for psychological distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal link between self-esteem discrepancies and internalizing problems in children.
- To investigate the mediating role of self-esteem discrepancies in the relationship between peer victimization and internalizing problems.
- To differentiate the impact of 'damaged' versus 'fragile' self-esteem.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study following 330 children from grade five to six (ages 11-12).
- Annual self-report measures for peer victimization and internalizing problems.
- Implicit self-esteem assessed via Implicit Association Test; explicit self-esteem via self-reports.
Main Results:
- Peer victimization predicted increases in damaged self-esteem (implicit > explicit).
- Damaged self-esteem at age 11 predicted increased internalizing problems by age 12.
- Damaged self-esteem mediated the link between victimization and internalizing problems.
- Fragile self-esteem (implicit < explicit) did not predict internalizing problems.
Conclusions:
- Damaged self-esteem predicts increased internalizing problems in children, similar to findings in older populations.
- Damaged self-esteem may be a key mechanism explaining why peer victimization leads to internalizing problems in children.
- Interventions targeting damaged self-esteem in victimized children may be beneficial.
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