A Study Of The Self Concept Evaluations Of Alcoholics And Non Alcoholics

Author : Emily Harris (Clinical psychologist)
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780591928860
Total Pages : 182 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (288 download)

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Download or read book Self-concept in Young Children of Alcoholics written by Emily Harris (Clinical psychologist) and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work focused on three research questions: (1) Are there differences in the self-concepts of young children of alcoholic parents and young children whose parents are not alcoholics? (2) Are there changes in self-concept in the children of alcoholics before and after a ten-week group therapy intervention? (3) What child, family, and alcohol-related variables may be associated with children who appear to have more resilient self-concept vs children who are at higher risk? The sample included 14 children between age 4 and 12 who were in group therapy due to parental alcoholism and 14 control children of the same ages from the same geographical area. The study was grounded in the developmental psychology models of Susan Harter (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987) and the social psychology models of Daniel Hart and William Damon (1982, 1986, 1988). Quantitative data were obtained about multiple dimensions of self-concept, using measures developed by Harter and Pike (1980, 1981) and Harter (1985). Demographic data were obtained from a Parent Questionnaire. Qualitative information was obtained from individual interviews with each child in the treatment group, using the Self Understanding Interview (Damon and Hart, 1988). Data analysis was primarily descriptive, due to the small sample size. Type I error was reduced by conducting planned comparisons and identifying significant results only at the p $\leq$.02 level. Quantitative results indicated no significant differences between the youngest children in either group (4 to 7 year-olds). Two significant differences in self-concept dimensions emerged between the older children (8 to 12 year-olds) in the two groups. Older children evaluated themselves as significantly less competent in scholastics and as having significantly more problems with behavioral conduct than the control children. Analyses conducted following group therapy showed that young children defined themselves as higher in physical competence; older children evaluated themselves as significantly higher in athletic competence and physical appearance. Qualitative analyses suggested that multiple child, family, and alcohol-related variables may be associated with more resilient vs more negative self-concept.