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Gender, Delinquent Status, and Social Acceptance as Predictors of the Global Self-Esteem of Teens

University of North Texas

Judith Cardona Forney

University of North Texas

Christy Crutsinger

University of North Texas

The combinations of gender, delinquent status, and social acceptance were examined as predictors of the global self-esteem of teens. Participants (N = 225) were aged 13 to 17 and included juvenile delinquents (n = 60) and high school students (n = 165) in one county in a southwest state. Factor analyses identified two dimensions of social acceptance (social verification, social interaction) and global self-esteem (self-respect, self-acceptance). Multiple regression analyses revealed the combination of gender (males) as a weak predictor and social verification as a strong predictor for self-acceptance and social interaction as a strong predictor for self-respect. Delinquent status did not predict global self-esteem. For these teens, the findings support the role of self-confirming feedback in the development of self-acceptance and the importance of socialization in forming self-respect. Implications for building self-esteem among teens are drawn for parents, high school teachers, and secondary schools.

Key Words: self-esteem • delinquent • gender • social acceptance • teens

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