Abstract

CRUVINEL, Miriam  and  BORUCHOVITCH, Evely. Self-concept and self-efficacy of children with and without depressive symptoms. Interam. j. psychol. [online]. 2009, vol.43, n.3, pp. 586-593. ISSN 0034-9690.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the self-concept and the self-efficacy of 54 children of 3rd and 4th grades, 27 with depressive symptoms (G1) and 27 without symptoms (G2). Participants´ mean ages were 8,74 (SD= 0,71) for G1 and 8,67 (SD=0,68) for G2. Data were collected through Children Depressive Inventory (CDI), a self-efficacy scale and Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale. Results evinced that G1 had a lower mean than did their G2 counterparts. Children in G1 evaluate themselves more negatively in the different domains of self-concepts than do children in G2. Findings were congruent with the literature. It is recommended that intervention procedures target at risk group students be developed at schools.

Keywords : Self-concept; Self-efficacy beliefs; Children depression; Self-perceptions.