title: A developmental examination of the psychometric properties and predictive utility of a revised psychological self-concept measure for preschool-age children.
abstract: Accurate assessment of psychological self-concept in early childhood relies on the development of psychometrically sound instruments. From a developmental perspective, the current study revised an existing measure of young children's psychological self-concepts, the Child Self-View Questionnaire (CSVQ; Eder, 1990), and examined its psychometric properties using a sample of preschool-age children assessed at approximately 4 years old with a follow-up at age 5 (N = 111). The item compositions of lower order dimensions were revised, leading to improved internal consistency. Factor analysis revealed 3 latent psychological self-concept factors (i.e., sociability, control, and assurance) from the lower order dimensions. Measurement invariance by gender was supported for sociability and assurance, not for control. Test-retest reliability was supported by stability of the psychological self-concept measurement model during the preschool years, although some evidence of increasing differentiation was obtained. Validity of children's scores on the 3 latent psychological self-concept factors was tested by investigating their concurrent associations with teacher-reported behavioral adjustment on the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation Scale-Short Form (SCBE-SF; LaFreniere & Dumas, 1996). Children who perceived themselves as higher in sociability at 5 years old displayed less internalizing behavior and more social competence; boys who perceived themselves as higher in control at age 4 exhibited lower externalizing behavior; children higher in assurance had greater social competence at age 4, but displayed more externalizing behavior at age 5. Implications relevant to the utility of the revised psychological self-concept measure are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami.
authors.forename: Rongfang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Sarah N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schoppe-Sullivan
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D000068356:Self-Control; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires