Changes in self-perceptions of fitness, appearance, and self-esteem among adolescents
were assessed in a 4-year follow-up study. Both the changes in the mean levels
across time (profile analysis), and the changes in the reliability and stability of
individual differences (i.e. covariance stability as test-retest correlations) were
examined. The subjects (64 boys, 49 girls) were 11 years old at the first annual
measurement. Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, as well
as self-assessment questionnaires specifically designed for this study to assess
Perceived Fitness and Perceived Appearance. MANOVA-and Simplex-models were used in
the analysis. Our results among the girls were in accordance with the gradual
consolidation hypothesis, so that self-perceptions become more fixed with increasing
age. The boys showed highly stable self-perceptions throughout the follow-up, which
may indicate the early emergence of a fixed self-concept. Self-esteem increased with
age but changes in perceived fitness were small over time. The decrease in perceived
appearance found among the girls but not among the boys was in accordance with the
gender intensification hypothesis.
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