Self-esteem accuracy and externalizing problems in preschool-aged boys

Although the existing literature addressing the relation between self-esteem and externalizing problems is inconsistent, it appears that accuracy of self-esteem ratings may be an important factor to consider. However, no studies to date have explored this with preschool-aged children. In this study, the authors investigated differences in externalizing problems between underraters, realistic raters, and overraters of self-esteem of 5-year-old boys in three domains: cognitive competence, physical competence, and peer acceptance. Compared to teacher ratings of competence, boys who overrated their cognitive competence and peer acceptance were more likely to be rated by teachers as exhibiting more externalizing problems the following year. Findings suggest that overconfidence may have important implications for the development of externalizing problems in young children.     

Inaccuracy of Perceived Competence Ratings Is Associated With Problem Behaviors in 5-Year-Old Children

The authors examined problem behaviors in preschool children as a function of perceived competence. Prior research has demonstrated a link between inaccuracy of self-perceptions and teacher-reported externalizing behaviors in preschool aged boys. This study extended past research by adding data collected from observed behaviors in a laboratory setting, as well as parent reports of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Five-year-old children completed the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSA) in the lab, participated in a 10-min puzzle interaction task with their cotwin and mother, and completed a short task assessing cognitive abilities. Children were grouped into 3 self-esteem categories (unrealistically low, realistic, and unrealistically high) based on comparisons of self-reported (PSPCSA) versus actual competencies for maternal acceptance, peer acceptance, and cognitive competence. Results showed that children who overreported their maternal acceptance and peer acceptance had significantly more parent-reported externalizing problems as well as internalizing problems. There were no significant differences in accuracy for cognitive competence. The findings from this study underscore the negative impact of unrealistically high self-appraisal on problem behaviors in young children.     

Parental Perceptions of the Family and Children's Peer Relations

To study the relationship between American parents' perceptions of the family environment, themselves, and their children's peer relations with preschool peers, data was obtained from 56 boys and 47 girls between 47 and 59 months old and their parents. Questionnaires on perceptions of family cohesiveness, expressiveness, conflict, psychosocial competence of self, and acceptance of children were completed by the parents. Sociometric evaluations of peer ratings and positive and negative nominations among children were completed by the children. Correlations revealed both similarities and differences between father–child and mother–child patterns. In general, boys' peer ratings were related to parents' competence whereas girls' peer ratings were related to parents' cohesion. Positive nominations in boys and girls were related to parents' competence. Negative nominations in boys and girls were related to low acceptance and high conflict in parents. These data suggest important links between parents' perceptions of the family and children's peer relations.     

童年中期同伴侵害影响孤独感的中介变量分析

为检验同伴侵害影响儿童孤独感的中介变量,采用同伴提名、儿童自我知觉量表、儿童孤独感量表和班级戏剧问卷对武汉市某小学3-6年级445名儿童进行了调查。结果发现：同伴接纳和整体自尊是同伴侵害与孤独感间的两个中介变量。 在考察单一变量的中介作用时,同伴接纳在儿童的同伴侵害与其孤独感间起完全中介作用,而整体自尊在儿童的同伴侵害与其孤独感间起部分中介作用;当同时考察同伴接纳与整体自尊的中介作用时,同伴接纳与整体自尊在同伴侵害与孤独感间起完全中介作用,而且,由于同伴接纳对整体自尊的正向预测作用,同伴侵害对整体自尊的预测关系不显著。     

Low self-esteem is related to aggression, antisocial behavior, and delinquency

The present research explored the controversial link between global self-esteem and externalizing problems such as aggression, antisocial behavior, and delinquency. In three studies, we found a robust relation between low self-esteem and externalizing problems. This relation held for measures of self-esteem and externalizing problems based on self-report, teachers' ratings, and parents' ratings, and for participants from different nationalities (United States and New Zealand) and age groups (adolescents and college students). Moreover, this relation held both cross-sectionally and longitudinally and after controlling for potential confounding variables such as supportive parenting, parent-child and peer relationships, achievement-test scores, socioeconomic status, and IQ. In addition, the effect of self-esteem on aggression was independent of narcissism, an important finding given recent claims that individuals who are narcissistic, not low in self-esteem, are aggressive. Discussion focuses on clarifying the relations among self-esteem, narcissism, and externalizing problems.     

New morbidity-problems and peer relations in a sample of Swedish primary school children: A follow-up from the first to third grade

The stability in the new morbidity-problem domains motor skills, reading/writing ability, behavioral–psychological–social function and concentration ability in school, and the stability of peer status and peer preferences as well as relationships between peer status and problems among boys and girls was studied in a sample of 81 Swedish primary school children. The children were rated by teachers and made peer nominations six months after school start, and in the third grade.
There was considerable stability in problems, while the stability in peer status was modest. There were marked gender differences. Boys in contrast to girls improved in motor skills from the first to the third grade, and boys had more concentration problems and multiple problems than girls in both grade 1 and 3. In the first grade, low peer acceptance in boys was accompanied by low motor skill. In the third grade, low peer acceptance in boys was accompanied by deficient concentration ability and externalizing problems. For girls, few relationships between low peer acceptance and problems emerged. Various explanations for these findings are discussed.     

Low social inclusion in childhood: adjustment and early predictors

The principal aim of the present study was to obtain a deeper understanding than hitherto of the concurrent correlates and prospective predictors of loneliness and poor peer acceptance, both falling under the umbrella term low social inclusion. Problematic and socially competent behaviours were investigated as possible predictors of low social inclusion in grade 6, as defined by self‐rated loneliness and degree of peer non‐acceptance, respectively. In grade 6 808 children participated whereof 323 were followed longitudinally from first grade. Loneliness in grade 6 was distinctively associated with high levels of internalizing problems, concurrently as well as prospectively. Peer acceptance, on the other hand, emerged as a complex, multifaceted aspect, with concurrent, independent predictions from both externalizing and internalizing problem behaviours as well as social competence, although prospective analyses found early externalizing problems to be the strongest predictor of peer acceptance. Moderating effects of social competence were sparse, although peer nominated social competence buffered peer acceptance for children with high levels of aggression in the concurrent analyses and social competence boosted peer acceptance for children with low problem levels in the predictive analyses. Social competence did not appear to buffer the negative impact of early problem behaviours on peer relations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3～8年级学生羞怯与心理适应之关系:一个有中介的调节模型检验

以1485名3-8年级学生为研究对象,借助同伴评价和自我报告,考察性别对羞怯和心理适应关系的调节效应以及同伴关系不良在上述调节效应中的中介作用。研究结果表明:(1)羞怯、同伴关系不良、孤独和抑郁的性别差异显著。女孩的羞怯水平显著高于男孩,而同伴关系不良、孤独、抑郁水平则显著低于男孩;(2)羞怯与同伴关系不良、孤独、抑郁呈较弱的正相关,而与自尊呈较弱的负相关;(3)羞怯与孤独、抑郁、自尊的关系受性别因素的调节,羞怯男孩面临的心理适应风险高于羞怯女孩;(4)性别对羞怯和孤独、抑郁、自尊关系的调节通过同伴关系不良这一中介因素而实现,间接效应占总效应的比例在25%至47%之间。这一结果表明,羞怯的适应价值存在性别差异,而同伴关系在其中扮演着重要的中介角色。     

Play Behavior Differences Among Preschoolers with ADHD: Impact of Comorbid ODD and Anxiety

The acquisition of positive peer play behavior is an important aspect of child development and an indicator of social competence. Engaging in peer play may pose challenges for children with internalizing and externalizing disorders, particularly those with comorbid disorders. Existing literature contains little information on the peer play behaviors of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and even less research is available examining the play behaviors of children with comorbid disorders. The present study assessed the peer play behaviors and social competence of 107 preschoolers with varying combinations of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and anxiety symptoms. Assessment methods included direct observations and teacher ratings of child behavior. Results indicated there were no differences in observed peer play behaviors or negative behaviors toward peers, but there were differences in teacher-rated social competence between the groups. Results are discussed in terms of assessment method variations as well as directions for additional research in this critical area and implications for practice.     

儿童早期同伴接纳与社会适应的关系：一项交叉滞后分析

采用间隔一年半的追踪设计对192名学前儿童的同伴接纳和社会适应之间的关系进行交叉滞后分析。结果发现：T1同伴接纳可以显著正向预测T2社会能力,显著负相预测T2外化问题行为,T1社会能力能够显著正向预测T2同伴接纳,T1内化问题和外化问题行为可以显著负向预测T2同伴接纳;T2同伴接纳可以显著正向预测T3社会能力,显著负相预测T3外化问题行为,T2社会能力能够显著正向预测T3同伴接纳。这些结果表明,同伴接纳和社会适应之间存在相互影响,并随着儿童年龄增长,存在一定程度的动态变化。     

童年中后期儿童同伴接纳知觉准确性与偏差及其对社交退缩的影响

以小学三年级至六年级的儿童为被试,探讨同伴接纳知觉准确性的年级和性别差异,同时考察同伴接纳知觉准确性及偏差对社交退缩行为的预测作用。儿童完成同伴评定、知觉评定、社交自我知觉和班级戏剧量表。结果表明：（1）随着年级的升高,儿童的同伴接纳知觉越来越准确;儿童的同性同伴接纳知觉准确性不存在显著的性别差异;四年级男生的异性同伴接纳知觉准确性显著低于女生;（3）同伴接纳知觉准确性显著正向预测安静退缩和活跃退缩;同伴接纳知觉偏差显著负向预测安静退缩,但对活跃退缩不具有显著的预测效应。     

Callous-Unemotional Traits are Uniquely Associated with Poorer Peer Functioning in School-Aged Children

This study examines externalizing symptoms (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], conduct problems, and callous-unemotional [CU] traits) in relation to domains of peer functioning (social competence, loneliness, and close friendship quality), with a specific focus on the role of CU traits. One hundred twenty-four elementary students (grades 3–6; 45% boys) completed multiple measures of peer functioning, and teachers completed measures of externalizing symptoms and social competence. After controlling for demographic variables and other externalizing symptoms, CU traits were significantly associated with poorer peer functioning across all variables except for demands of exclusivity in close friendships. ADHD symptoms were also uniquely associated with poorer social functioning across a number of variables. In contrast, conduct problems were at times associated with better social functioning after controlling for the effects of other externalizing problems. These findings bolster the importance of developing and evaluating social skills interventions for children displaying elevated CU traits.     

Children with behaviour problems: the influence of social competence and social relations on problem stability,school achievement and peer acceptance across the first six years of school

The aims of the present study were to investigate the role for problematic children of the child's social competence, teacher relations and behaviour with peers for later problem persistence, school performance and peer acceptance, in terms of moderating (protective and exacerbating) and independent effects. Groups of children with externalizing (n=26) and internalizing (n=25) problems and a non‐problematic group (n=44) were followed from grade 1–6. Teachers rated behaviour problems and social competence in the first, third and sixth grades, the teacher–child relationship in third grade, and school achievement in sixth grade. Behaviour with peers was assessed in observations in later elementary school. Peer acceptance was assessed through peer nominations in sixth grade. Both problem groups had lower social competence, school achievement and peer acceptance in sixth grade than the non‐problematic group. There were moderating and independent effects of social competence, teacher and peer relations on outcomes, but these applied mainly to children with internalizing problems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Peer status and social competence in child psychiatric inpatients: A comparison of children with depressive,externalizing, and concurrent depressive and externalizing disorders

Social competence, peer status, and clinical symptomatology were evaluated in 54 child psychiatric inpatients. Aims were (a) to evaluate whether social competence deficits and peer rejection within an inpatient setting were associated with particular childhood disorders, and (b) to identify predictors of peer status in emerging groups of child inpatients. Results indicated that children with externalizing disorders (conduct or attention deficit disorders) and children with concurrent depressive and externalizing disorders were the most rejected, least liked, and least socially competent children. Depressed children without externalizing disorders had the highest scores on the social status and competence measures. Predictors of peer rejection and acceptance in the hospital differed, with measures of symptomatology predicting peer rejection, and measures of social and intellectual competence predicting peer acceptance. Implications of the results for understanding the role of peer adjustment and social competence in developmental psychopathology were discussed.This research was supported in part by Biomedical Research Support Grant RR756 awarded to the author. The author wishes to thank Donald Guthrie and Sondra Purdue for their statistical consultation, Gwen Gordon for her computer assistance, and Joan Trumbull for her assistance with data collection.     

Links between mothers' and children's social competence and associations with maternal adjustment.

Extended previous research on family factors related to children's social competence by examining links between 3 domains of maternal social competence (social skills, social frames, network size) and 3 domains of children's social competence (social skills, peer-rated social preference, and network size) in a sample of 78 mothers and their kindergarten children (42 girls, 36 boys). The mediational role of maternal social competence in the association between mothers' depression and interpersonal sensitivity symptoms and children's social competence was also tested. Results supported associations between all 3 domains of mothers' and children's social competence, with maternal social skills the most frequent predictor of children's social competence. Gender differences suggested that maternal social competence was more strongly related to sons' peer acceptance and daughters' social skills. A mediational model received preliminary support for girls, with maternal psychological symptoms related to girls' social competence via maternal social skills. Implications include the need for continued study of maternal social competence as a family factor related to children's peer functioning and the development of family-based interventions for young children experiencing peer problems.     

A longitudinal study of children's depressive symptoms, self-perceptions, and cognitive distortions about the self

This longitudinal study examined how depressive symptoms relate to children's self-perceptions and to estimates of children's cognitive distortions about the self in a nonclinical sample of children who were followed from 4th grade (n = 248) through 6th grade (n = 227). Report card grades measured children's academic competence, and teachers' ratings of children's level of peer acceptance at school indicated social acceptance. Self-reported depressive symptoms predicted a change in children's negative views of the self. Moreover, the self-perceptions of children who exhibited more symptoms of depression appeared to reflect an underestimation of their actual competence. Children's negative self-perceptions and underestimations about the self were not associated with a subsequent change in depressive symptoms. The implications of the findings for cognitive theories of depression and future research with this population are discussed.     

童年中期受欺负与问题行为之关系: 一项两年纵向研究

摘要：采用同伴评价和教师评价对733名小学3年级儿童进行为期两年的追踪研究,通过结构方程模型,考察受欺负与两类问题行为的相互预测关系。结果发现：（1）受欺负与外化问题行为和内化问题行为呈显著正相关。（2）受欺负在两年之间呈现较高的稳定性;而外化问题行为和内化问题行为则表现出较低程度的稳定性。 （3）结构方程模型结果表明,三年级时的受欺负可以显著预测五年级时的外化问题行为,而三年级时的外化问题行为不能显著预测五年级时的受欺负;三年级时的内化问题行为可以显著预测五年级时的受欺负,而三年级时的受欺负不能显著预测五年级时的内化问题行为。在受欺负与问题行为的相互预测关系中,内化问题行为更有可能成为受欺负的触发因素,而外化问题行为则更有可能是对受欺负的回应。     

Self-perception profile in children with cancer: self vs parent report.

Self-perception about competence, behaviour, and self-worth were examined in 30 children (8 to 14 years) recently diagnosed as having cancer and were compared with that of their parents' perception. The poor agreement between parents' and children's ratings on physical appearance and social acceptance is noteworthy in that these two domains are particularly vulnerable in children with cancer, given the effect of chemotherapy on physical appearance and children's tendency to view themselves as socially undesirable or a burden to others. This finding, if replicated, can have implications for therapeutic intervention since the discrepancy score could be used to challenge children's negative views in the context of cognitive therapy to improve their self-esteem.     

Assessment of Social Competence of Boys with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Problematic Peer Entry,Host Responses,and Evaluations

Anecdotally and empirically, there is clear evidence that children with the Combined subtype of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience disturbed peer relations, yet the field has not clearly established the origin of these difficulties. This is the first known investigation to examine the role of peer entry as a means to determine the social competence of boys with ADHD as they joined lab-based games played by age-mates who were good friends but unfamiliar with entry boys. Observational data of entry boys and their hosts, plus coders’ ratings, indicate that 7- to 12-year-old boys with and without ADHD did not differ in the use of competent entry strategies known to lead to acceptance from peers. However, boys with ADHD relied more heavily on incompetent entry strategies (e.g., disruptive attention-getting) known to exacerbate negative peer reputation. In addition, they failed to apply a frame-of-reference that was relevant to host boys’ ongoing activity. As such, host boys considered boys with ADHD less likeable as they spent more time with them. This pattern of findings has theoretical implications and informs the foci of social skills interventions for children with ADHD.     

A Longitudinal Investigation of Sport Participation, Peer Acceptance, and Self-esteem among Adolescent Girls and Boys

The present investigation was designed to explore the relations between sport participation, peer acceptance, and global self-esteem. Peer acceptance was considered as a possible mediator of the relationship between sport participation and global self-esteem. The sample included girls (N?=?4,689) and boys (N?=?5,811) between the ages of 12 and 21 (M?=?15 years) who were part of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Analyses revealed that peer acceptance partially mediated the relation between sport participation and global self-esteem for girls as well as boys. Findings suggest the importance of considering how sport participation and self-evaluations in particular domains may contribute to global feelings of self-worth. The role of peers in this relationship is discussed in relation to changing social attitudes about girls’ sport participation.