Examining Mother-Child Agreement in the Reports of Child Competence by Maternal Education and Gender

Abstract

This study aims to examine whether the level of agreement between mothers’ and children’s reports of children’s self-perception across different areas differ(s) by child gender and maternal educational level. The sample consisted of adolescents aged between 9 and 14 and their mothers (N = 270). Adolescents filled out Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC; 2012) to assess their competence in different domains (e.g., social adjustment, school success). The instructions for SPCC were modified for mothers to evaluate their children’s perception of competence. The reports of mothers and their children were compared, and the results indicated low-to-moderate agreement between mothers-child dyads about children’s sense of competence. Second, children were found to have a higher global sense of self-worth and perceive themselves as more competent in social, behavioral, and athletic areas when compared to their mothers’ perceptions. Finally, it was determined that the agreement between the mother-child dyad differs by the mothers’ education level and the child’s gender. Accordingly, low-educated mothers perceived their children as less behaviorally competent than the children themselves did. Regarding social competence, the perception of low-educated mothers differed with their daughters but not with their sons. The results were discussed in view of the context of Turkish mothers’ socialization and gender role expectations.