scholarly journals Gender Differences in Social Comparison Processes and Self-Concept Among Students

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie Valls
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Comparison ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Attitudes ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
School Students ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Learning Mathematics

Forced social comparison (i.e., comparing oneself to another “predefined” student) has often been studied in school settings. However, to our knowledge, studies that explore its association with academic self-concept have rarely distinguished between subjects involved (e.g., mathematics or language learning). Moreover, some processes taking place during forced social comparison are thought to have a negative impact on academic self-concept. Thus, the aims of this study were to explore: 1) the associations between self-concepts (i.e., Language learning, Mathematics and Social), attitudes towards school and social comparison processes in school settings; and 2) the influence of social comparison processes on components of academic self-concept across gender. A sample of 238 elementary school students (Mage = 10.12, SD = 1.25; 52% boys) completed a questionnaire assessing self-concepts and attitudes towards school, as well as a questionnaire measuring four social comparison processes. Results indicated that girls used negative processes (i.e., upward contrast and downward identification) more than boys. In addition, boys reported better self-concept in mathematics while girls reported better self-concept in language learning (small effect). Results of stepwise multiple linear regression analyses showed that upward contrast best explained gender differences, with a stronger effect for girls. Attitudes towards school only explained gender differences in language learning self-concept. Furthermore, positive processes (i.e., upward identification and downward contrast) have no effect on either component of academic self-concept. Results of this study demonstrate the need to examine the evolution of social comparison processes over time, considering their impact on students’ academic/social well-being and achievement from a gender perspective.

CULTURE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE SELF-ESTEEM OF COLLEGE STUDENTS: A FOUR-COUNTRY COMPARISON

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 321-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Watkins ◽  
Adebowale Akande ◽  
Christopher Cheng ◽  
Murari Regmi
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
School Students ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
Undergraduate University Students ◽  
Second Year ◽  
And Gender

The responses of 268 Hong Kong and 399 Nigerian first- or second-year social science undergraduate university students to the Personal and Academic Self-Concept Inventory (PASCI; Fleming & Whalen, 1990) were compared to previously reported findings with similar groups of American and Nepalese students. Country × Gender analyses indicated clear, statistically significant mnain and interaction effects which varied according to the area of self-esteem under investigation. Support was found for the tendency found in research with secondary school students for subjects from non-Western cultures to report higher academic but lower nonacademic self-esteem than their Western peers. However, the gender differences did not generalize across cultures.

Social Comparison, Judgment, and Behavior

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Comparison ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Relative Deprivation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Group Behavior ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Face ◽  
And Behavior

This edited volume presents both classic and contemporary conceptual, empirical, and applied perspectives on the role of comparisons with other people—a core aspect of social life—that have implications for the self-concept, opinions, subjective and physical well-being, conformity, decision-making, group behavior, education, and social movements. The volume is comprised of original chapters, authored by noted experts, divided into three sections: basic comparison processes, neighboring fields, and applications. The first section is comprised of chapters that update classic theories and present advances, such as the dominating effect of local versus global comparisons, an analysis of the psychology of competition, how comparisons across different domains influence self-concept and achievement, and the integral connections between stereotyping and comparison. The second section introduces perspectives from neighboring fields that shed new light on social comparison. These chapters range from judgment and decision science, cognitive psychology, social network theory, and animal social behavior. The third section presents chapters that describe applications of comparison, including relative deprivation; health psychology; the effects of income inequality on well-being; the relationships among social hierarchies, power, and comparison; and the interconnections of psychological processes such as comparison and differential construal that favor the status quo and can discourage social action in the face of injustice and inequity.

scholarly journals EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: DOES GENDER MATTER?

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S931-S931
Author(s):  
Celeste Beaulieu ◽  
Jeffrey E Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Previous research has suggested that informal socializing can be beneficial for mental health, whereas prior findings concerning solitary activities and mental health have been equivocal. Activity theory posits that involvement in activities – particularly social activities – can improve adults’ self-concept and self-esteem, leading to improved well-being. Solitary activities may perform the same function, though without any social reinforcement. However, social engagement and mental health may both vary by gender. Thus, we examined associations of informal socializing and solitary activities with depressive symptoms among 13,387 respondents of the 2012/2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, and further assessed potential gender differences. Results revealed that both informal socializing and solitary activities were significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms when analyzed separately. However, when both types of activities were modeled simultaneously, only informal socializing remained significant. Further, stratified analyses revealed that informal socializing was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms among women but not men, although these coefficients were not significantly different from each other. Overall, findings suggest that both informal socializing and solitary activities may be beneficial for mental health, yet results were clearly stronger for informal socializing. Socializing may benefit mental health not only by bolstering one’s self-concept, but also by linking adults with social ties and support networks that are instrumental for well-being in mid- and later life. Moreover, gender differences in effects were minimal and largely non-significant, indicating that activity involvement can bolster mental health for men and women alike.

scholarly journals Performance-approach goals: the operationalization makes the difference

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Wirthwein ◽  
Ricarda Steinmayr
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Goals ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
School Students ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
School Grades ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Approach Goals

AbstractThe operationalization of performance-approach goals (PAGs) was found to be an important moderator of the associations between different PAGs and several educational outcomes. To explore this aspect in more detail, we conducted two studies with school students (N1 = 425, mean age = 16.6 years, SD = 0.61; N2 = 310, mean age = 14.91, SD = 1.72). In study 1, we mainly focused on the associations between achievement goals and school grades. In study 2, we additionally assessed several motivational variables (academic self-concept, school values), as well as test anxiety and school well-being. All variables were assessed for school in general, mathematics, and German (mother tongue). The results of confirmatory factor analyses replicated and extended the finding on the different facets of PAGs. Besides a normative-based PAG component (the aim is to perform better than others) and an appearance-based PAG component (the aim is to demonstrate one’s ability), an additional proving PAG component (the aim is to demonstrate one’s ability toward significant others) was found. Contrary to earlier findings, both normative and appearance-based PAGs were positively correlated with school grades, whereas the proving component showed smaller associations. Moreover, differential associations with self-concept, school values, and school well-being emerged regarding the different facets of PAGs. The results are discussed with regard to the operationalization of PAGs.

scholarly journals Amateur sport and emotional burnout formation in high school students

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergii Tukaiev ◽  
Olena Dolgova ◽  
Olena Lysenko ◽  
Svetlana Fedorchuk ◽  
Yurii Havrylets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
School Students ◽  
Amateur Sport ◽  
Emotional Burnout

Practicing sports, as well as physical activity in general, contributes to a healthy lifestyle, helps to prevent numerous chronic diseases, and plays a therapeutic role in addressing a number of cognitive and psychological disorders (such as depression, distorted body image and self-perception, low self-esteem). As regards students, freshmen with higher physical capabilities can better adapt to new college environment, which in turn influences their well-being, psychological state and ability to study. The aim of our study was to detect the level of emotional burnout and individual psychological characteristics of the university students, engaged in amateur sports. It was shown that the group of amateur sportsmen demonstrated higher level of arousal and mobility of neural processes, and lower level of neuroticism, lower level of neurotization, anxiety, psychic tension and depression. This allows us to conclude that the type of nervous system may define the disposition towards the physical activity, and the strength of nervous system determines the ability to achieve success in sports. Our data indicate that practicing sports prevents development of burnout, reduces the negative impact of daily emotional stress, and provides a socially acceptable way to express aggression. Keywords: amateur sportsmen, typological and personality traits, burnout

scholarly journals The influence of current information technologies on the health status of schoolchildren

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
AI Sokolova ◽  
EE Yaskova
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Past ◽  
Coronavirus Infection

The development of information technologies, their availability for every family, the transition to distance learning could not but affect health status of schoolchildren. In the past year, amid the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the time that schoolchildren spend with gadgets has significantly increased. The relevance of this study is determined by the evaluation of the ever-increasing and, as a rule, negative impact of computer technologies on the health of schoolchildren. The study aimed to investigate the features of the effect information technologies have on the well-being of high school students and to analyze the role teachers play in popularization of healthy lifestyle and reduction of the degree of influence of information technologies on health of modern schoolchildren.

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