Adolescent girls’ friends, peers, school type: do these influence self-esteem and self-concept of school?

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Authors
Morrissey, Fiona
Issue Date
2013
Degree
Higher Diploma in Arts in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights
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Abstract
Adolescence is a period when self-esteem and academic decisions become salient; peer friendships expand and their significance increases. This research examined female midadolescent friendships, best-friendships, same-sex friendships, opposite-sex friendships, and whether each of these three categories of friendship correlated with self-esteem, self-concept of school. Two different schools were compared. Ninety-seven girls participated, forty-three from a same-sex school, fifty-four from a mixed-sex school. Using a mixed design, respondents completed the McGill Friendship Questionnaire (MFQ – RA) (Mendelson & Abound, 1999), two peer relationship scales and academic self-concept scale, drawn from Self-Description Questionnaire II (SDQ II) (Marsh, 1992), Rosenberg Self Esteem Questionnaire (Rosenberg, 1989). Same-sex friendships positively correlated with selfesteem and self-concept of school. Opposite-sex friendships positively correlated with selfesteem. Best friendships were not found to be significant. Same-sex school participants had higher self-concept of school ability. Self-esteem was not significantly different between both groups. Findings and recommendations for future research are discussed. Author keywords: adolescent girls, peers, school type, self-esteem, self-concept
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