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Self-Esteem Trajectories and Their Social Determinants in Adolescents With Different Levels of Cognitive Ability
Alexandre J S Morin1, A Katrin Arens2, Danielle Tracey3
1Alexandre J. S. Morin, Substantive-Methodological Synergy Research Laboratory Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
Abstract:
This study examines the development of self-esteem in a sample of 138 Australian adolescents (90 males; 48 females) with cognitive abilities in the lowest 15% (L-CA) and a matched sample of 556 Australian adolescents (312 males; 244 females) with average to high levels of cognitive abilities (A/H-CA). These participants were measured annually (Grade 7 to 12). The findings showed that adolescents with L-CA and A/H-CA experience similar high and stable self-esteem trajectories that present similar relations with key predictors (sex, school usefulness and dislike, parenting, and peer integration). Both groups revealed substantial gender differences showing higher levels of self-esteem for adolescent males remaining relatively stable over time, compared to lower levels among adolescent females which decreased until midadolescence before increasing back.
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