Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


case1267542748.pdf (1.23 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Internalizing Symptoms, Self-Perceptions, and Domain-Specific Competencies in Girls Attending a Single-Sex Middle School

Duax, Jeanne M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1267542748

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Psychology.
Depression and anxiety are common mental health concerns that occur at increased rates in girls, particularly during adolescence. Although prior research has established a variety of risk factors and correlates of internalizing disorders in girls, little research has been conducted in a single-sex educational setting where girls’ risk for these problems may vary due to contextual factors. Moreover, the roles that domain-specific competencies, both perceived by girls and observed by teachers, play in self-reported internalizing symptoms has been minimally explored in the clinical psychology literature. Accordingly, the present study assessed internalizing symptoms and domain-specific competencies in a sample of 91 girls (ages 9-14) attending a single-sex, private middle school. Self-perceived and teacher-rated competencies were assessed in the following domains: scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, and behavioral conduct. Consistent with hypotheses, significant negative associations among internalizing symptoms and self-perceived competencies were found across all domains except athletics. Moreover, self-perceptions of appearance and social acceptance explained an additional 17% of the variance in internalizing symptoms after controlling for competence ratings in other domains. With regard to social/peer variables, ratings of close, supportive friendship and social competence were negatively associated with internalizing symptoms. Unexpectedly, friendship network size and popularity were not significantly associated with internalizing symptoms. The only teacher-rated domains negatively associated with internalizing symptoms were behavioral conduct for depressive symptoms and athletic competence for anxiety symptoms. Exploratory analyses regarding the subset of girls with at least subclinical levels of internalizing symptoms showed lower self-perceptions of appearance and behavioral conduct compared to girls with nonclinical levels of internalizing symptoms. Furthermore, differences among the depression (n = 7), anxiety (n = 12), and anxiety + depression (n = 8) subgroups showed significant differences in girls’ self-perceptions of their appearance and behavioral conduct: girls in the anxiety subgroup rated their appearance and behavioral conduct higher than girls in the depression and comorbid subgroups. Moreover, teachers rated girls in the anxiety subgroup as significantly more competent in their scholastic and behavioral conduct than girls in the other two subgroups. Based on these findings, implications for girl-focused interventions and future research are discussed.
Norah Feeny, PhD (Committee Chair)
Kimberly Emmons, PhD (Committee Member)
Sandra Russ, PhD (Committee Member)
Julie Exline, PhD (Committee Member)
Lisa Damour, PhD (Committee Member)
170 p.
Psychology
Internalizing symptoms; girls; self-perceptions

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Duax, J. M. (2010). Internalizing Symptoms, Self-Perceptions, and Domain-Specific Competencies in Girls Attending a Single-Sex Middle School [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1267542748

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Duax, Jeanne. Internalizing Symptoms, Self-Perceptions, and Domain-Specific Competencies in Girls Attending a Single-Sex Middle School. 2010. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1267542748.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Duax, Jeanne. "Internalizing Symptoms, Self-Perceptions, and Domain-Specific Competencies in Girls Attending a Single-Sex Middle School." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1267542748

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1267542748
684
© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.