Harter's Self-Perception Profile Research Articles

Adolescentes victimes d’abus sexuel et trajectoire délinquante : quels facteurs de résilience ?

IntroductionThis study concerns resilience related to juvenile delinquency among victims of sexual abuse: sexual abuse has been recognized as a powerful risk factor for the emergence of deviant and criminal behavior. ObjectiveOur study aims to explore and highlight the protective factors that prevent victims of sexual abuse from engaging in a delinquent trajectory. MethodThe sample consists of teenage girls who have revealed, at minimum last year, their intergenerational abuse. These girls, all between 12 and 18years old are divided into sub-groups: the non-offender victims and the victims who are also offenders. Each teenage victim is compared to a normative population on different psychological functioning dimensions: self-esteem (Harter's self-perception profile for adolescents), aggressiveness (the Buss–Perry Aggression questionnaire) and post-traumatic stress, with the Impact of Event scale Revised, (IES-R)-Horowitz. We analyze family characteristics, such as familial attachment and family climate, social characteristics, such as associations with peers, and environmental factors, such as reactions to revelations of sexual abuse, the presence of family and extra-familial resources, psychological care. Results and conclusionThe results show that teenage victims of sexual assault present lower self-esteem and a negative self-perception in all fields, except for the perception of their attractiveness. Over-investment of this single dimension of self-perception can lead to a sexualization of their relationships with others and expose them to the risk of sexual revictimisation. The comparative analyses between the adolescent delinquent and non-delinquent victims highlight risk factors in connection with setting them off on a delinquent trajectory and protective factors supporting their resilience. The results highlight specific characteristics to the offender juvenile victims supporting a delinquent trajectory: aggressiveness, PTSD, defensive strategy of avoidance and characteristics of abuse (chronicity of abuse). The victim committed in delinquent trajectories presented more aggressiveness, consumeristic behaviour, post-traumatic stress and defensive strategy of avoidance than non-offender victims. Delinquent behaviour, just like substance abuse, could be a strategy of risk avoidance in connection with reliving sexual trauma, which hinders the process of resilience. Compared to the process of resilience, immediate and differed paternal support (during and after the revelations) seems the most important factor of protection. Being able to benefit from psychological councelling and having an extra-familial resource (a significant relationship with someone in the social environment) also constitute factors that support the resilience of these teenagers and prevent them from going down the path of delinquency. The interventions should aim at establishing a therapeutic alliance with these young girls during the early process of revealing the sexual abuse and mobilize and activate the support of the father (when he is not the abuser) or of a meaningful paternal figure as early as possible during the revealing phase and to accompany him in this restructuring function.

Developmental Change and Time-Specific Variation in Global and Specific Aspects of Self-Concept in Adolescence and Association with Depressive Symptoms.

Previous research has demonstrated that adolescents make differential self-evaluations in multiple domains that include physical appearance, academic competence, and peer acceptance. We report growth curve analyses over a seven year period from age 9 to age 16 on the six domains of the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children. In general, we find little change in self-concept, on average, but do find substantial individual differences in level, rate of change, and time-specific variation in these self- evaluations. The results suggest that sex differences and adoptive status were related to only certain aspects of the participants' self-concept. Depressive symptoms were found to have significant effects on individual differences in rate of change and on time-specific variation in general self-concept, as well as on some of the specific domains of self-concept.

Changes in oral health-related quality of life reports in children during orthodontic treatment and the possible role of self-esteem: a follow-up study

As a continuation of a baseline study on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and the role of self-esteem (SE), the aim of this research is to investigate the changes in OHRQoL reports in children during orthodontic treatment and the influence of SE. This longitudinal study comprised 109 children (50 boys and 59 girls) aged 11-16 years, all receiving orthodontic treatment. Questionnaires were administered at baseline and at follow-up (1 year after start of orthodontic treatment). OHRQoL was assessed by the child perception questionnaire (CPQ). The Dutch adaptation of the Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents was used to assess SE and the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need defined the need for treatment. The questionnaires also included questions related to motivation for treatment. Spearman correlations, Wilcoxon signed rank tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests were performed. A significant increase in total CPQ score was found during orthodontic treatment. This increase was also significant for the subdomains functional limitations, oral symptoms, and social well-being, whereas for the subdomain emotional well-being a non-significant decrease in CPQ score was found. Children with high SE at baseline showed significantly lower variability in OHRQoL measures at follow-up. OHRQoL deteriorates in children during orthodontic treatment. There is evidence that SE can be a protective factor in OHRQoL during orthodontic treatment.

Behavioral Self-Concept as Predictor of Teen Drinking Behaviors

BackgroundAdolescence is a critical developmental period for self-concept (role identity). Cross-sectional studies link self-concept's behavioral conduct domain (whether teens perceive themselves as delinquent) with adolescent substance use. If self-concept actually drives substance use, then it may be an important target for intervention. In this study, we used longitudinal data from 1 school year to examine whether behavioral self-concept predicts teen drinking behaviors or vice versa. MethodsA total of 291 students from a large, predominantly Latino public high school completed a confidential computerized survey in the fall and spring of their 9th grade year. Survey measures included the frequency of alcohol use, binge drinking and at-school alcohol use in the previous 30 days; and the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents behavioral conduct subscale. Multiple regressions were performed to test whether fall self-concept predicted the frequency and type of spring drinking behavior, and whether the frequency and type of fall drinking predicted spring self-concept. ResultsFall behavioral self-concept predicted both the frequency and type of spring drinking. Students with low versus high fall self-concept had a predicted probability of 31% versus 20% for any drinking, 20% versus 8% for binge drinking and 14% versus 4% for at-school drinking in the spring. However, neither the frequency nor the type of fall drinking significantly predicted spring self-concept. ConclusionsLow behavioral self-concept may precede or perhaps even drive adolescent drinking. If these results are confirmed, then prevention efforts might be enhanced by targeting high-risk teens for interventions that help develop a healthy behavioral self-concept.

Quality of life and functional disability in skeletally mature patients with myelomeningocele-related spinal deformity

The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of life, physical function, self-motivation, and self-perception of skeletally mature patients with spina bifida and scoliosis. This is a prospective study on 19 skeletally mature patients with a mean age of 21.4 years. Several questionnaires were used for the study: Activities Scale for Kids, Quality of Life in Spina Bifida Questionnaire, The Health Self-Determinism Index for Children, Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, and the Spina Bifida Spine Questionnaire. This study found no association between spinal deformity or other features related to spina bifida and self-perception, motivation, and overall physical function. More severe scoliosis affects quality of life and is related to the degree of pelvic obliquity and the age of the patients. Individuals with motor-level dysfunction below L3 had significantly better overall physical function compared with those with a higher level of lesions. This was the only factor found to affect physical function. Our findings suggest that most limitations in patients with spina bifida are not related to the degree of scoliosis but to other associated disabilities.

The effect of teachers trained in a fundamental movement skills programme on children’s self-perceptions and motor competence

Perceived and actual motor competence are hypothesized to have potential links to children and young people’s physical activity (PA) levels with a potential consequential link to long-term health. In this cross-sectional study, Harter’s (1985, Manual for the Self-perception Profile for Children. Denver, CO: University of Denver) Competency Motivation-based framework was used to explore whether a group of children taught, during curriculum time, by teachers trained in the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) programme, scored higher on self-perception and on core motor competencies when compared to children whose teachers had not been so trained. One hundred and seventy seven children aged 7–8 years participated in the study. One hundred and seven were taught by FMS-trained teachers (FMS) and the remaining 70 were taught by teachers not trained in the programme (non-FMS). The Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children assessed athletic competence, scholastic competence, global self-worth and social acceptance. Three core components of motor competence (body management, object control and locomotor skills) were assessed via child observation. The FMS group scored higher on all the self-perception domains ( p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between the schools on all of the motor tasks ( p < 0.05). The relationships between motor performance and self-perception were generally weak and non-significant. Future research in schools and with teachers should explore the FMS programme’s effect on children’s motor competence via a longitudinal approach.

Pogo Stick Programs Provide Physical and Psychological Benefits to Children

Novel methods of adding vigorous exercise to physical education classes or after school programs could boost physical and psychological well-being in children. We explored the use of pogo stick classes in two cohorts of 10 - 11 years old children. Both interventions consisted of two, one-hour sessions per week for six weeks. Attendance at these after-school sessions was high (Study 1, 82%; Study 2, 95%). Study 1 tested the efficacy of a pogo class in sports-active children aged 10 - 11 years from a community adjacent to a university. They were tested before and after the intervention for balance using a stabilometer, for leg power using jump height, and for VO2max using the Leger 20 m shuttle run. Means of pre and post intervention measures were compared using paired t-tests. Balance improved (p = 0.001) while VO2max and leg power remained consistent. Study 2 tested the ability of pogo classes to improve self-esteem in girls who did not participate in sports and resided in a low socio-economic urban area. Before and after the intervention they completed the Harter Self-Perception Profile. Self-assessed scores in all six categories of the Harter Profile increased, indicating that the pogo stick intervention elicited improved self-esteem in the children. Results from these two pilot studies using pogo sticks in different cohorts of children indicate that pogo-based programs can provide physical and mental health benefits.

Impact of self-esteem on the relationship between orthodontic treatment need and oral health-related quality of life in 11- to 16-year-old children

The interest in the psychological aspects of orthodontic treatment increases, but a drawback of many studies is that the psychological characteristics of the children themselves are often ignored. One of these psychological attributes is self-esteem (SE), which is a relatively stable personal resource that might moderate the effects of conditions or events. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between orthodontic treatment need and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and whether this relationship is influenced by SE. This cross-sectional study comprised 223 children (113 boys and 110 girls) between 11 and 16 years of age (mean age 13.2 years), seeking orthodontic treatment. The OHRQoL was scored by the use of the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ(11-14)). The Dutch adaptation of the Harter's Self-Perception Profile was used to assess SE, and the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need defined the need for treatment. Spearman correlations, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and regression models were used to analyze the data. There was a significant relationship between orthodontic treatment need and OHRQoL, and between SE and OHRQoL. No evidence was found that SE moderates the relationship between OHRQoL and treatment need.

The relationship between motor competence, physical fitness and self‐perception in children

The aim of the current research was to explore the relationship between motor competence, physical fitness and self-perception, and to study to which extent this relationship may vary by gender. A sample of 67 children (mean age 11.46 years, SD 0.27) completed Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC), the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and the Test of Physical Fitness (TPF) to assess self-perception, motor competence and physical fitness. The SPPC was stronger related to total score on TPF than to total score on MABC. However, when looking at boys and girls separately, this result was found for the boys only. In the group in general, total scores on both TPF and MABC correlated significantly with three of the domains of SPPC (social acceptance, athletic competence and physical appearance) and general self-worth. This relationship varied by gender. Interestingly, TPF was highest correlated with perception of athletic competence in boys but with perception of social acceptance in girls. A high and significant correlation was found between physical fitness and motor competence for both genders. The results indicated a strong relationship between physical fitness, motor competence and self-perception in children that varied by gender. This implies that all these factors are essential contributions in order to facilitate participation in physical activity in children.

Perceived Competence: A Common Core for Self-Efficacy and Self-Concept?

This study uses Bandura's Multidimensional Scales of Perceived Self-Efficacy (MSPSE; Bandura, 1990) and Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (SPPA; Harter, 1988) to examine the extent to which self-efficacy and competency-related elements of the self-concept are independent constructs. Factor analysis of data provided by 778 high school students revealed that when measured using domain-general measures such as the MSPSE and SPPA, self-efficacy and competency self-concept do not represent totally separate, distinct constructs. Overlap of dimensions occurs at both the first- and second-order levels of analysis. The practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Mean-Level Change in Self-Esteem from Childhood through Adulthood: Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies

This study performs a meta-analysis of the mean-level of change in self-esteem across the life span. Fifty-nine studies yielded data from 130 independent samples. Results indicate that, despite slightly increasing from childhood to the first decade of young adulthood, self-esteem does not change beyond 30 years old. Self-esteem changes the most during the first decade of young adulthood. The effects of gender and time span between assessments on change in self-esteem were minimal during adolescence, while the way self-esteem is measured significantly affects change. The mean effect size was the largest with the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the smallest with Harter's Self-Perception Profile. Birth cohort also significantly influences change, whereas older cohorts change to a smaller extent compared to younger cohorts.

Patient-reported outcomes in pediatric patients with psoriasis undergoing etanercept treatment: 12-week results from a phase III randomized controlled trial

Psoriasis adversely affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults; however, little information exists about its impact on children and adolescents. The effect of etanercept therapy on HRQoL compared with placebo was evaluated in children and adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. HRQoL data were collected from patients 4 to 17 years of age in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, North American, phase III study of etanercept. Instruments for assessing HRQoL included the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Stein Impact on Family Scale, and Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children. Baseline CDLQI and PedsQL scores revealed reduced HRQoL in patients with psoriasis relative to comparative populations. Patients treated with etanercept demonstrated significantly higher mean percentage improvement in total CDLQI scores from baseline to week 12 compared with those treated with placebo (52.3% etanercept vs 17.5% placebo [P = .0001]). At week 12, patients who achieved 75% improvement in their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score had higher percentage improvements from baseline in total CDLQI scores than those who did not have 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score. The PedsQL, Stein scale, and Harter profile demonstrated limited improvement in patients' HRQoL, suggesting that these scales may not be sensitive to issues that are relevant to children with psoriasis and their families. Etanercept therapy had a clinically and statistically meaningful impact on disease-specific quality of life (CDLQI) and a clinically meaningful impact on general quality of life (PedsQL) in children and adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Self-Esteem Links in Families with 12-Year-Old Children and in Separated Spouses

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study is to map associations of self-esteem in families with 12-year-old children and in separated spouses. The authors assessed self-esteem using the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adults (B. Messer & S. Harter, 1986) and the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children (S. Harter, 1988; L. Wichstrom, 1995) in (a) 1,236 pairs of spouses and their 12-year-old children and (b) 159 pairs of ex-spouses. The authors found links for all aspects of self-esteem for married and cohabiting spouses in contrast with ex-spouses who lacked such associations. Ex-spouses had a lower global self-worth than did married and cohabiting spouses. The authors also found parent–child associations for self-esteem. Girls resembled their mothers' global self-worth more than their fathers' and more than the boys. Family members manifest similar levels of self-esteem. The spouses’ similarity can be due to assortative mating, a convergence over time, or both. For children, environmental influence in the family context can contribute to the formation of self-esteem. The stronger mother–girl link suggests that maternal identification of self-esteem is an environmental factor for girls in particular.

Validação brasileira da escala de autopercepção de harter para crianças

O Self-perception Profile for Children (SPPC) e usado para investigar a autopercepcao de criancas. O objetivo deste estudo foi traduzir o SPPC para o portugues e verificar a validade dos itens, da analise fatorial confirmatoria e da consistencia interna teste-reteste dessa versao. Participaram do estudo, alem de sete profissionais, 746 criancas (8 a 12 anos), as quais responderam o instrumento em dois momentos. Os resultados indicam que a versao brasileira contem questoes claras e pertinentes (CVCt > 0,70) e apresenta indices satisfatorios de validade fatorial confirmatoria (χ2/gl = 4,33; Non-normed Fit Index = 0,958; Comparative Fit Index = 0,967 e Tucker e Lewis´s Index of Fit = 0,962) e de consistencia interna teste-reteste, e assim a versao brasileira se mostrou valida.

The Psychometric Properties of the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children with At-Risk African American Females

The Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) is one of the most commonly used measures of childhood self-esteem, yet there is little research assessing the psychometric properties of the SPPC for use with an African American population. A sample of 92 African American adolescent females (M age = 12.33) was administered the SPPC in order to assess its suitability for this population in three ways. First, an exploratory factor analysis demonstrated complex components without any factors being identical to the normative factors. The greatest differences were within the behavior and scholastic subscales which had items cross loading on three different factors. Second, the SPPC demonstrated only moderate internal reliability with subscale alpha coefficients ranging from .71 to .82. Third, a comparison with the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale provided evidence of poor convergent validity. These results raise questions about the validity of the SPPC for use with African American adolescent females.

Self‐perception in overweight and obese children: a cross‐sectional study

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between obesity and self-esteem in children in relation to specific domains of their self-perception, and further to explore the extent to which this may vary by gender and economic circumstances. A total of 211 children aged 8-9 years drawn from both advantaged and disadvantaged areas of Belfast completed the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children and measures of body mass index were obtained. Overweight, impoverished children had significantly reduced social acceptance and physical competence scores. Boys had significantly lower scores than girls in the behavioural conduct domain. Girls had significantly lower scores than boys for the athletic competence. These results suggest that risk factors of increased weight and impoverished backgrounds have a combined negative effect, placing some children at increased risk of having lower self-perceptions in some, but not all domains. Health interventions for childhood obesity should consider the likelihood of specific relationships between physical and psychosocial factors.

Therapy in a subtropical climate for children with cerebral palsy. Evidence of physical and psychosocial effects?

To assess a possible therapeutic effect in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy of a habilitation programme in a warm sunny climate. Fifty-seven children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, all integrated with normal functioning children through mainstream schooling, received an individualized four-week habilitation programme at a habilitation centre in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. They were clinically assessed before and after treatment, and again after three and six months. The clinical tests included gross motor function measure (GMFM) and the paediatric evaluation of disability inventory (PEDI). Mental health and self-esteem were assessed by using the youth self report (YSR), the child behaviour checklist (CBCL) and the Harter's self-perception profile. We also used focus-group interviews on all 57 parents by the end of the treatment period. The study revealed some improvements in the level of physical performance. The most striking finding, however, was the lasting effect on behavioural and emotional parameters and the children's self-esteem. Training in a warm climate may explain some of this positive effect. However, based on the focus-group interviews and its quantitative findings a more plausible explanation may be the interaction in a social setting with others in a similar situation.

Effect of obesity on physical self-concept of urban school children living in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of obesity on the physical self-concept of urban school children living in Potchefstroom, South Africa. A total of 277 (127 boys and 150 girls) children aged 11-13 years from urban schools in Potchefstroom voluntarily participated in cross-sectional, observational research study conducted in 2007. Stature and body mass were measured according to the International Society for Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The children were classified into three groups of normal, overweight and obese according to BMI cut-off point suggested by Cole, Bellizzi , Flegal and Dietz (2000). Susan Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents was used to assess the self-perception of children. Descriptive statistics of means and standard deviations as well as frequencies were calculated for the data. Nonparametric t-test was employed to test significant differences between boys and girls among the three groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post-hoc test were calculated to examine the effect of obesity on the children's physical self-concept. The results showed that overweight and obese children were taller and heavier than their normal counterparts. Furthermore, the results showed that the overweight or obesity status significantly affected boys physical acceptance (F7.02 = 2.62, p < 0.05) as compared to the normal ones. In addition, the overweight or obesity status significantly affected girls scholastic competency (F3.93 = 0.35, p < 0.05), athletic competence (F4.58 = 0.30, p < 0.05) and behavioral acceptance (F5.84 = 0.31, p < 0.05) than the normal ones. It is concluded that overweight and obesity status affects the physical self-concept of social acceptance, scholastic competence and behavioural acceptance of the children. The effect of overweight and obesity on the physical self-perception of school children should be considered in planning obesity management strategies for preventive health care.

The relationship between physical performance and self‐perception in children with and without cerebral palsy

This study examined the relationship between physical performance and perceived self-competence and global self-worth in children with and without spastic diplegia. A matched-pairs design, including eight children with spastic diplegia and eight typically developing children, was used to compare the children's performance and to examine relationships. Children aged 7 to 11 years were assessed to determine their gross and fine motor abilities and they completed a modified version of the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children. Children with diplegia performed at lower levels in all gross and fine motor assessments compared with children without diplegia. Self-perception was lower in children with diplegia in fine motor competence (P = 0.03) and global self-worth (P = 0.05). Clinically important differences (> 10%) in gross motor and athletic competence were also found. Positive correlations between physical performance assessments and some self-perception domains were present, although strength and direction of relationships differed for each group in some instances. This small study found that in addition to having reduced physical skills, children with spastic diplegia may experience a less positive global self-worth than typically developing children. These findings are in contrast to some previous research. Future research should examine the hypothesised relationship more definitively to determine whether improvement in physical skills results in a higher level of self-competence and consequently a higher global self-worth. This might further justify interventions aimed at improving fine and gross motor skills of children with cerebral palsy. Clinicians should be mindful of addressing both physical issues and self-worth with clients.

Using Self-Concept Instruments With High-Ability College Students

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the academic subscales of Marsh's Self-Description Questionnaire III and Neeman and Harter's Self-Perception Profile for College Students for use with high-ability college students. Participants included 100 high-ability college students and 196 average-ability college students enrolled in a comprehensive university in the South. Data analysis estimates of internal consistency were moderate, and estimates of relationships with external validity criteria, namely, academic achievement, aspirations, and year in school, moderately supported the validity of each subscale. Results indicate some support for the use of each subscale with high-ability college students. Putting the Research to Use: Academic self-concept is a construct that likely affects multiple other academic areas, including academic achievement, educational aspirations, career aspirations, and retention. Among high-ability college students, academic self-concept may be related to participation in an honors program and living in an honors residence hall, which may further the academic, social, and emotional collegiate experience. Having a psychometrically sound measure of academic self-concept that is appropriate for use with high-ability college students will enable researchers to effectively study the academic self-concepts of high-ability college students. Traditional measures of academic self-concept are often validated on younger samples of high-ability students, but the research is lacking on validity research related to samples of college students.