Self-concept and physical self-concept in psychiatric children and adolescents

Abstract

Self-concept is a widely examined construct in the area of psychiatric disorders. This study compared the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) scores of adolescents with psychiatric disorders (N=103) with the results of a matched group of non-clinical adolescents (N=103). Self-concept and Physical self-concept were lower in the clinical than in the non-clinical group. Girls (N=59) scored lower than boys (N=44) in both groups. In the different diagnostic groups specific domains were affected in line with symptomatology, which has implications for therapy.