Self-Concept Clarity Across Adolescence: Longitudinal Associations With Open Communication With Parents and Internalizing Symptoms

Abstract

Higher self-concept clarity is related to several adjustment indices and may be promoted by open communication with parents, while problems with self-concept clarity development could enhance internalizing problems (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms) in adolescence. This longitudinal study examined linkages between self-concept clarity, adolescents' open communication with parents, and adolescent depressive and anxiety symptoms. Dutch youths (N = 323; 51.1 % girls; mean age Time 1 = 13.3 years) reported on these constructs over four consecutive annual measurements. Concurrent positive links between open communication and self-concept clarity were found at Time 1. Over time, higher levels of open communication with parents predicted higher self-concept clarity only in middle adolescence (mean age between 14 and 15 years). We also found concurrent associations between self-concept clarity and both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Longitudinally, lower self-concept clarity predicted relatively higher levels of depressive symptoms across all waves, and also higher anxiety levels from Time 1 to Time 2. Conversely, higher levels of anxiety also predicted lower levels of self-concept clarity during the first three waves. Self-concept clarity did not mediate the longitudinal associations between open communication and internalizing symptoms. This study is one of the first to investigate self-concept clarity across adolescence. It highlights the possible importance of both anxiety symptoms and communication with parents in understanding the development of a clear self-concept, and demonstrates an association between lower self-concept clarity and higher levels of later depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Could we use parent report as a valid proxy of child report on anxiety, depression, and distress? A systematic investigation of father–mother–child triads in children successfully treated for leukemia

“…63,65,66 In that sense, disagreements observed here may also reflect parent-adolescent relationships. [66][67][68] This study underlines the necessary use of a multi-informant perspective calling for both parents and the child when young survivors are assessed. This allows to gather different pieces of information to optimize the distress identification in older children.…”

Risk and resiliency factors related to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: The identity disruption model

“…Furthermore, the variables we assessed capture frequency of early adverse experiences but do not speak to the severity of those experiences.Would a single particularly traumatic experience be more or less impactful than several less severe experiences?Identifying identity-related processes as a potential risk factor for body image problems raises the possibility that early positive parenting programs may also protect against later body image problems. This is supported by some longitudinal evidence demonstrating that positive family experiences may improve self-concept clarity; in a study of middle adolescents, having open communication with parents (e.g., "My parents are always good listeners") predicted greater self-concept clarity over time(Van Dijk et al, 2014). In addition, identifying disrupted identity as a potential risk factor suggests an alternative group to target in early intervention (such as people low in self-concept clarity), as well as possible approaches for alternative interventions (such as boosting healthy identities).…”

A Mixed Methods Study of Recently Homeless Youth Efforts to Sustain Housing and Stability

“…It is a 12-item self-report survey answered on a five point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). The scale has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of the concept across a range of populations including adolescents (internal consistency .86-.89;Van Dijk et al, 2014). Behavioral (participation in activities; 7 dichotomous items) and psychological (feeling of belonging and knowing people; four 5-point likert items) aspects of community integration were examined using the Community Integration Scale (Stergiopoulos et al, 2014).…”