Abstract

MAGALHAES, Eunice  and  LOPES, João. Self-concept on institutionalized adolescents: An exploratory study. Psicologia [online]. 2011, vol.25, n.2, pp.163-180. ISSN 0874-2049.

The literature suggests that institutionalization may negatively impact adolescents who may show low self-esteem, self-blaming statements, feelings of incompetence and a perception of uncertainty concerning to the future. This paper presents results of a study of self-concept among institutionalized and non institutionalized adolescents. The study involved 78 participants (100% females) from the north of Portugal (Institutionalized: N=39; 50%) who completed the Scale of Self-concept of Piers-Harris for Children. The results showed that institutionalized adolescents report lower levels of global self-concept as well as low intellectual, academic and behavioral self-concept. However, other dimensions of self-concept seem fairly protected, which may show that there are protector factors. In the future research, other psychological dimensions should be explored with institutionalized adolescents, with multidimensional and longitudinal approaches.

Keywords : institutionalization; self-concept; adolescence.

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