The Effects of Social Class Differences on the Self-Concepts of Some Nigerian Adolescents

Abstract

A purpose-built Semantic Differential Scale was administered to 372 adolescents. One hundred and eighteen of them came from middle class homes while two hundred and fifty four came from lower socioeconomic homes. There were two hundred and sixty four boys, and one hundred and eight girls. Their mean age was 16.7 years. The results showed that adolescents from middle class homes had more significantly positive self-concepts than those from lower class homes. The lower class adolescents had more positive self-concepts than their counterparts on only the religious – non-religious scale (p < .001). The observed differences were discussed. It was suggested that concerted effort should be made in homes and schools to enhance the self-concepts of adolescents, particularly those from low socio-economic status groups.

Socioeconomic Status, Physical Fitness, Self-Concept, Attitude toward Physical Education, and Academic Achievement of Children

“…Numerous studies in different cultural contexts have differed from the present findings. Olowu (1986) for adolescents and Trusty, et al (1994) for Grade 4 students found significant differences in self-concept, favoring students with higher SES. Conversely, some researchers reported no association between the parents' SES and self-esteem of younger children, a weak association for adolescents, and a moderate one among adults based on their own social class.…”

“…In an early study (Rosenberg & Pearlin, 1978), a moderate positive relation was noted on socioeconomic status with self-esteem of adults and adolescents with lower self-esteem being observed in those from lower classes; however, no association with age was evident. Olowu (1986), in a study of adolescents, and Trusty, Peck, and Mathews (1994), in a study of Grade 4 students, reported significant differences in self-concept for students of different socioeconomic status in favor of those from high SES backgrounds.…”

Gender as a determinant of some nigerian adolescents' self‐concepts

“…This study concerns itself with the effect of sex differences only. The effects of social class on the adolescent submitted for publication elsewhere Olowu (1985). However there were n8 of the subjects from parents classified as belonging to social class I, while the others (254) were from social class 2,…”