title: Socioenvironmental experiences, self-esteem, and emotional/behavioral problems in early adolescence.
abstract: Tested the role of self-esteem as a mediator of relationships between socio-environmental experiences and emotional/behavioral problems using a sample of 215 young adolescents (Grades 7-9). Socioenvironmental experiences were assessed using self-report questionnaire measures of social support and major and minor stressful events. Self-esteem was assessed using a self-report questionnaire, an interview, and a parent-report questionnaire. Emotional/behavioral problems were assessed using self-report, parent-report and teacher-report questionnaires. Utilizing structural equation modeling, the data were used to test a model in which self-esteem mediated the relationship between socioenvironmental experiences and emotional/behavioral problems. The hypothesized model provided a reasonably good fit to the data (normed fit index = .90). However, an alternative model which also allowed for direct effects of socioenvironmental experiences on emotional/behavioral problems produced a significant improvement in model fit. In this model, socio-environmental experiences had significant effects on emotional problems via both direct effects and indirect effects that indicated a mediating role for self-esteem. Only direct effects of socioenvironmental experiences were evident for behavioral problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: DuBois
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Felner
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bull
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support