This study examines the relationships between adolescents' perceptions of parental behavior and a measure of adolescents' self-concepts. The research is based on 274 African adolescents (14 to 20 years of age). The Perceived Parental Behavior Inventory (PPBI) was used to operationalize adolescents' perceptions of parental behaviors. Adolescents' self-concepts were measured with the Self-Description Inventory (SDI). The findings suggest that adolescents' self-concepts (relations with family, general school, physical appearance, relations with peers, health, global) were positively related to their perceptions of parental behaviors. Girls' self-concepts (relations with family, general school, physical appearance, health) were found to be more sensitive to parental behaviors (support, interest, encouragement, expectations, and participation). In general, these findings tend to support the symbolic interactionist perspective of the development of self.
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