The Development of Self-Concept in Adolescence according to Gender

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the development of self-concept in adolescence according togender. Using data harvested from the 1st-6th years taken from the Korea Education Longitudinal Study,undertaken by the Korea Educational Development Institute, the sample consisted of 6,908 adolescentswho had participated in the Korea Education Longitudinal Study. Multi-level analysis using a growthmodel was conducted in order to analyze the development of self-concept in adolescence according togender. The results of this study revealed that the development of self-concept in adolescence changed andunderwent linear change in particular during the middle school years. Additionally, there were differencesin the growth rates of the self-concept according to gender. First, there were differences in the growthrates in terms of social self-concept according to gender. Second, there were no apparent differences in thegrowth rates of the family self-concept according to gender. Third, there were no differences in thegrowth rates in terms of physical self-concept according to gender. Fourth, there were differences in thegrowth rates of academic self-concept according to gender. The implications and limitations of this studywere also discussed.