ABSTRACT
The questions of whether self-esteem and locus of control change during the high school years, and whether gender differences exist in these variables were considered in this study. Participants consisted of 174 students who were ninth graders in 1989 and who were surveyed each spring for four years. Two-way ANOVAs were used to measure changes in self-esteem and locus of control over the four years as well as gender differences. A significant main effect for gender with lower self-esteem scores for girls was found. For locus of control, there was a significant main effect for grade and an interaction between grade and gender.
Subject(s)
Internal-External Control , Psychology, Adolescent , Self Concept , Adolescent , Age Factors , Analysis of Variance , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Personality Development , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Adolescents' participation in extracurricular activities is related to a number of variables, such as higher grade point average, increased self-esteem, and lower absenteeism. This research, part of a larger longitudinal study, was designed to determine whether a short, psychoeducational intervention, the personal empowerment program, would affect adolescents' level of involvement in activities, their self-esteem, or their locus of control. Fifty-two ninth-grade students who were average participators were randomly selected and assigned to either the empowerment program or control group. Students were surveyed six months after the program. Analyses of covariance using pretest scores as the covariates indicated that students who participated in the program maintained their level of activity involvement during the transition to high school, a time when participation generally decreases. The program did not produce significant changes in self-esteem or locus of control. Implications for future research are discussed.
