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Socioenvironmental experiences, self‐esteem, and emotional/behavioral problems in early adolescence
Author(s) -
DuBois David L.,
Felner Robert D.,
Sherman Michelle D.,
Bull Catherine A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf02506871
Subject(s) - psychology , structural equation modeling , health psychology , self esteem , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology , public health , medicine , statistics , mathematics , nursing
Tested the role of self‐esteem as a mediator of relationships between socioenvironmental experiences and emotional/behavioral problems using a sample of 215 young adolescents (Grades 7–9). Socioenvironmental experiences were assessed using self‐report questionnaire measures of social support and major and minor stressful events. Self‐esteem was assessed using a self‐report questionnaire, an interview, and a parent‐report questionnaire. Emotional/behavioral problems were assessed using self‐report, parent‐report and teacherreport questionnaires. Utilizing structural equation modeling, the data were used to test a model in which self‐esteem mediated the relationship between socioenvironmental experiences and emotional/behavioral problems. The hypothesized model provided a reasonably good fit to the data (normed fit index=.90). However, an alternative model which also allowed for direct effects of socioenvironmental experiences on emotional/behavioral problems produced a significant improvement in model fit. In this model, socio‐environmental experiences had significant effects on emotional problems via both direct effects and indirect effects that indicated a mediating role for self‐esteem. Only direct effects of socioenvironmental experiences were evident for behavioral problems.