The Self-Concept of Preadolescents in the Hellenic Context

Abstract

The study examined the self-concept of preadolescents within the existing Greek sociocultural context. It was hypothesized that the specific milieu with its own psychosocial, sociocultural and economicosocial processes operating would shape the way preadolescents perceive and evaluate themselves. The self concepts of Athenian children (n=754), rural children (n=320) and children from rapidly changing milieu (n=380), considered as lying at three distinct points on the continuum of social change, were compared. In addition to the contextual impact upon self-concept an historical perspective was also considered. Since this study was the first attempt in Greece to measure selfconcept, a new device was developed; self-concept was viewed from the perspective of real, ideal and social self. The factors which composed self-concept were determined by factor analysis while multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relative effect of SES (father's education and father's occupation), children's I.Q. and achievement on self-concept factors. Results suggested wide differences on all three levels of selfconcept among the three population groups and between sexes. The findings indicated that the task of forming a stable self-image and identity, a comparatively simple task in low complexity milieux, becomes a much morecomplex process in high complexity milieux. Confusion and conflict characterize the self-concept of preadolescents who live in a rapidly changing milieu. School achievement and to a much lesser degree 1.Q., were found to be the best predictors of the particular academic self-concept factor, while SES was found to have no effect on any self-concept factor.