title: Development of self-monitoring behavior from early to late adolescence.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the development of self-monitoring behavior during adolescence. Due to limitations of the widely used Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (Lennox & Wolfe, 1984), the construct of self-monitoring has not been successfully examined in individuals younger than college age. For the purpose of expanding our knowledge regarding the developmental aspects of self-monitoring, the Adolescent Self-Monitoring Scale (ASMS) was developed, administered to young (junior high) adolescents, and found to be internally consistent and highly correlated with the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale. Factor analysis identified two subscales: (1) Ability to Modify Self-Presentation and (2) Sensitivity to Expressive Behavior of Others. An examination of 490 adolescents from 12 to 18 years of age provided support for the hypothesis that self-monitoring behavior does increase from early to late adolescence. ANOVAs produced a significant difference by age in overall self-monitoring behavior and in sensitivity to the expressive behavior of others. No age differences in the ability to modify self-presentation were found. The development of behavioral measures is suggested to determine more accurately the developmental aspects of the ability to modify self-presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Communication, University of Arkansas, Little Rock 72204.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pledger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D003463:Cues; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012931:Social Environment