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Personal self-concept and satisfaction with life in adolescence, youth and adulthood
Eider Goñi Palacios1, Igor Esnaola Echaniz, Arantzazu Rodríguez Fernández
1Universidad del País Vasco.
Background:
The main aim of this study was to explore the relationships between personal self-concept and satisfaction with life, with the latter as the key indicator for personal adjustment. The study tests a structural model which encompasses four dimensions of self-concept: self-fulfillment, autonomy, honesty and emotions.
Method:
The 801 participants in the study, all of whom were aged between 15 and 65 (M = 34.03, SD = 17.29), completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Personal Self-Concept (APE) Questionnaire.
Results:
Although the four dimensions of personal self-concept differ in their weight, the results show that, taken together, they explain 46% of the differences observed in satisfaction with life. This implies a weight that is as significant as that observed for general self-esteem in previous research studies.
Conclusions:
This issue should be dealt with early on, during secondary education, in order to help prevent psychological distress or maladjustment.
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