Sex Differences in Self-Concept in Spanish Secondary School Students

Abstract

The aims of the study were to examine differences between boys and girls in global self-esteem and in specific domains of self-concept. Several measures of global self-esteem and multidimensional self-concept were administered to 61 boys and 64 girls. Analysis showed that boys reported higher scores than girls on global self-esteem, measured on the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory and the Feelings of Inadequacy Scale by Janis-Field, but this result was not reproduced when self-esteem was measured on the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. No differences have been found in domain-specific self-concepts, except for the ethical-moral self-concept, on which girls reported higher scores than boys.