BACKGROUND: Social self-concept is a foundational construct in the healthy development of early adolescent girls; however, few gender-specific social self-concept interventions exist to support adolescent girls' development. OBJECTIVES: The overarching goal of the dissertation was to enhance the design, delivery, and evaluation of the Growing Girls Program. To achieve this, three distinct yet complimentary aims were established, to: (1) identify best practices in existing social self-concept interventions, (2) evaluate the effect of the current Growing Girls Program on early adolescent girls' social self-concept, and (3) identify gender-specific messages that early adolescent girls interpret from print media. METHODS: The dissertation employs a mixed-methods design, integrating findings from a systematic review of social self-concept interventions, content analysis of parent focus groups (n=4) and interviews (n=11), quantitative analysis of participant questionnaires (n=40) and visual content analysis of adolescent created collages (n=20). RESULTS: The results by specific aim illustrated: 1) the value of interventions that are: implemented in the school setting, developmentally and culturally appropriate, informed by theory, led by well-trained and supported facilitators, and implemented for 12 weeks to 6 months in duration, 2) that the evaluation of the Growing Girls Program provided promising evidence for its future implementation; and 3) that early adolescent girls perceived media messages to promote the importance of physical beauty, sex-appeal, cosmetic use, confidence, designer brands, perfect bodies and health. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the improvement of the Growing Girls Program, and thereby to the practice of promoting early adolescent girls' social self-concept. Findings illustrate the lack of interventions focused on social self-concept and the challenges of adequately conceptualizing and measuring the construct. Therefore, the enhancement of the gender-specific Growing Girls Program fills an important gap in the social self-concept development literature. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Growing Girls Program should retain current practices assumed to be associated with its success, including its developmentally appropriate, gender specific, 22-week curriculum, its school-based setting, its use of trained and well-supported program facilitators, and it fidelity tracking. To improve, the program should 1) add lessons on the subjects of physical beauty, sex appeal, and the need to appear confident, 2) reduce levels of attrition, and 3) enhance its evaluation practices by including a comparison group, utilizing alternative self-report social self-concept measures, and including a follow up post-intervention.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between the self-concept of student teachers and their interpersonal relationships. A literature survey focused on these two variables. This was followed by an empirical investigation involving 300 students. Findings include: A significant, positive correlation was found between selfconcept and interpersonal relationships for males and females and for all three year groups involved. Significant, positive correlations were also found between: cognitive self-concept and relationships with lecturers; self-concepts of male students and relationships with parents; self-concepts of female students and relationships with lecturers. For all three year groups the relationships with lecturers contributed most to their self-concepts. For males, the emotional self-concept; and for females, the cognitive self-concept contributed significantly towards their interpersonal relationships. For first and second-year students, the social self-concept contributed most towards their interpersonal relationships; while for third-year students, the cognitive self-concept contributed significantly towards interpersonal relationships. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between the self-concept of student teachers and their interpersonal relationships. A literature survey focused on these two variables. This was followed by an empirical investigation involving 300 students. Findings include: A significant, positive correlation was found between selfconcept and interpersonal relationships for males and females and for all three year groups involved. Significant, positive correlations were also found between: cognitive self-concept and relationships with lecturers; self-concepts of male students and relationships with parents; self-concepts of female students and relationships with lecturers. For all three year groups the relationships with lecturers contributed most to their self-concepts. For males, the emotional self-concept; and for females, the cognitive self-concept contributed significantly towards their interpersonal relationships. For first and second-year students, the social self-concept contributed most towards their interpersonal relationships; while for third-year students, the cognitive self-concept contributed significantly towards interpersonal relationships. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

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Poor academic achievement in Zimbabwe secondary schools prompted the study. Literature has demonstrated the importance of self-concept for achievement. The study investigates the significance of the relationship between learner self-concept and academic achievement in secondary schools in Zimbabwe, and also compares self-concepts and achievements on the basis of gender, age, form, school location, school type and type of attendance, e.g. boarders or day scholars. Data was collected from 1281 adolescent learners in urban and rural government and non-government secondary schools by means of questionnaires and interviews. Results confirmed the positive and reciprocal relationship between learner self-concept and academic achievement. Sport appears to have an influence on the academic achievement of male learners in government schools. Learners believe that sport improves their confidence, discipline, time management skills and social relationships. Non-academic self-concepts correlate highly and significantly with the cognitive self-concept. Males and females appear to be similar regarding their self-concepts and overall academic achievement though girls have better cognitive self-concepts. School location and type, and type of attendance have a significant influence on learner academic achievements and self-concepts. Age may influence academic achievement and self-concepts as well. Junior adolescent learners appear to have better self-concepts than senior learners, though their academic achievement is similar. Learners in Government B schools and those in urban schools seem to have better self-concepts than those in other schools. Day scholars appear to have better physical, emotional and general self-concepts than boarders. The results emphasise the need to pay attention to self-concept as well, when trying to improve the academic achievement of learners. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education)

Poor academic achievement in Zimbabwe secondary schools prompted the study. Literature has demonstrated the importance of self-concept for achievement. The study investigates the significance of the relationship between learner self-concept and academic achievement in secondary schools in Zimbabwe, and also compares self-concepts and achievements on the basis of gender, age, form, school location, school type and type of attendance, e.g. boarders or day scholars. Data was collected from 1281 adolescent learners in urban and rural government and non-government secondary schools by means of questionnaires and interviews. Results confirmed the positive and reciprocal relationship between learner self-concept and academic achievement. Sport appears to have an influence on the academic achievement of male learners in government schools. Learners believe that sport improves their confidence, discipline, time management skills and social relationships. Non-academic self-concepts correlate highly and significantly with the cognitive self-concept. Males and females appear to be similar regarding their self-concepts and overall academic achievement though girls have better cognitive self-concepts. School location and type, and type of attendance have a significant influence on learner academic achievements and self-concepts. Age may influence academic achievement and self-concepts as well. Junior adolescent learners appear to have better self-concepts than senior learners, though their academic achievement is similar. Learners in Government B schools and those in urban schools seem to have better self-concepts than those in other schools. Day scholars appear to have better physical, emotional and general self-concepts than boarders. The results emphasise the need to pay attention to self-concept as well, when trying to improve the academic achievement of learners. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Psychology of Education)