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Maite Garaigordobil This study has two objectives: 1) to analyse the characteristics of self-concept, self-

esteem and psychopathological symptoms in accordance with age and gender in a representative
sample from the Basque Country; and 2) to explore the relationships of self-concept and self-esteem
with psychopathological symptoms. The sample is made up of 1,579 participants, aged 12 to 65, of
whom 732 are males (46.4%) and 847 are females (53.6%). The study uses a descriptive and
correlational methodology. For the measurement of psychopathological symptoms, self-concept and
self-esteem, three assessment instruments are applied. The ANOVAs indicated significant differences
associated with age in self-concept, self-esteem, and quantity of psychopathological symptoms. As
regards gender, no significant differences were found for self-concept and self-esteem, but there were
differences in psychopathological symptoms, with females scoring higher in various disorders
(somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety, and total quantity of
symptoms). The results of the correlational analyses confirmed significant inverse relationships between
selfconcept/self-esteem and psychopathological symptoms. The discussion considers the potential role
of intervention programmes that promote self-concept and self-esteem in the prevention of
psychopathological problems.

Graetz BW 1, Sawyer MG, Hazell PL, Arney F, Baghurst P. To


examine the discriminant validity of
DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes in a nationally
representative sample of Australian youths. Current DSM-IVADHD prevalence was
7.5% (6.8% with impairment) with inattentive types being more common than
hyperactive-impulsive and combined types. ADHD was more prevalent among
young males and was linked to social adversity, particularly for combined types.
Compared with non-ADHD controls, all three ADHD subtypes were rated as having
more emotional and behavioral problems and lower psychosocial quality of life, with
combined types consistently rated the most impaired. Combined types received
higher ratings than hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive types on externalizing
behavior problems, disruption to family activities, and symptom-specific impairments
with schoolwork and peer-related activities. Inattentive types were rated as having
lower self-esteem, more social and school-related problems, but fewer externalizing
problems than hyperactive-impulsive types.
CONCLUSION:
These findings support the view of DSM-IVADHD subtypes as distinct clinical
entities with impairments in multiple domains.

Luísa Faria This study of 260 Portuguese early adolescents (Grades 5 to 7; 11–14
years old) used a questionnaire which taps six different domains and was devised by
Hatter to evaluate the self-concepts of children and early adolescents in Grades 3 to 7.
The Portuguese version has Cronbach coefficients alpha between .25 and .80. The
results of factor analysis and correlational studies evidence a low differentiation of the
dimensions of self-concept. Results of differential studies by sex and school grade
indicate girls see themselves as better behaved than do boys and boys see themselves
as significantly more athletically competent than do girls. Also, fifth graders see
themselves as more competent in five domains of self-concept than do seventh graders.

Carolyn McNamara Barry Stability and change from middle childhood to middle
adolescence in participants’perceptions of their friendship-making ability and their
friends’ deviant behavior were examined. Third-grade, fourth-grade, and sixth-grade
children completed questionnaires that assessed those constructs and did so again 5
years later. Participants perceived their friendship-making ability as greater during
childhood than during adolescence. Adolescents perceived their friends as more deviant
than did children. Each of the two perceptions was not highly stable over 5 years.
Aspects of children’s perceived social competence were examined as predictors of
adolescents’ perceived friendship-making ability and the deviant behavior of their
friends. Children’s perceived friendship-making ability and value, and frequency of
friend interaction significantly predicted adolescents’ perceived friendship-making ability,
whereas children’s perceived deviant behavior of friends, friendship-making ability (a
negative predictor), and popularity with boys and with girls significantly predicted
adolescents’ perceived deviant behavior of their friends.

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