Adolescent self-concept and health into adulthood.
OBJECTIVE
This article examines factors associated with adolescent self-concept and the impact of adolescent self-concept on psychological and physical health and health behaviour in young adulthood.


METHODS
The data are from the household cross-sectional (1994/95) and longitudinal (1994/95 to 2000/01) components of Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey.


METHODS
Scores on self-concept indicators in 1994/95 were compared between the sexes and age groups (12 to 15 versus 16 to 19). Multivariate analyses were used to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between adolescent self-concept and depression, self-perceived health, physical activity and obesity, controlling for other possible confounders.


RESULTS
Self-concept tends to be low among girls compared with boys. Cross-sectionally, adolescent self-concept was associated with household income and emotional support. For girls and for young adolescents, a weak self-concept in 1994/95 was related to the incidence of depression over the next six years; it was also predictive of physical inactivity among boys, and obesity among both sexes. A strong self-concept had a positive long-term effect on girls' self-perceived health.
Park
Jungwee
J
Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6. Jungwee.Park@statcan.ca
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution