Self-Esteem and Family Cohesion: The Child's Perspective and Adjustment

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between children's self-esteem and their perceptions of family cohesion. Closeness to the family was identified in terms offive family types (oneand two-parent cohesive, divided, parent coalition and isolated child). Questionnaires assessing children's self-esteem (Coopersmith, 1967; Piers and Harris, 1969) and perceptions of family happiness and support were administered to 467 fifthand sixthgrade children. Teachers' knowledge offamily relationships was also measured. The results indicated that children from different family types experienced varying degrees of closeness and support. Furthermore, those children reporting little family support tended to score low levels on self-esteem. The importance of examining the parent-child relationships as well as parental interactions in studies of the effects of divorce on children is discussed.