Adolescents Living in Public Housing: Self-perceptions of Competence and Family Satisfaction

Abstract

This pilot study was developed to better understand the perceived level of self-competence in African American adolescents living within public housing developments in the mid-South. The study’s goal was to obtain a more in-depth understanding of self-perceptions in strategic areas and begin to determine how their environment may affect dimensions of self-competence. Measurements included Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Children scale (SPPC) and Hudson’s Family Relationship Problems domain contained in his Multidimensional Adolescent Assessment Scale. A comparative analysis was conducted between the sample means and those obtained from the population on which the SPPC instrument was normed [Harter (1985), The self-perception profile for children: revision of the perceived competence scale for children. Denver: Manual, University of Denver]. All scores were analyzed both within gender and within past scholastic performance. Findings suggested that this sample of public housing youth scored similarly within both gender and past scholastic performance on most domains with a few exceptions. Males scored significantly higher on self-ratings of physical appearance than females, and low-reporting scholastic achievers tended to rank themselves significantly lower in athletic competence. Physical appearance and scholastic competence were associated with global self-worth, and family turmoil was associated with fewer close friendships. Importantly, the sample means were significantly different than the normed population means across several domains of competence. The finding suggesting that scholastic performance is a predictor of self-worth is supported by later research and refuted by earlier research. Perhaps this is a regional effect or perhaps there has been a cultural norm shift that more recent studies are able to identify. Interventions need to be designed for youth at middle-school age because the ability to instill protective factors greatly diminishes at post-puberty development.