Children’s Mathematics and Verbal Self-concepts and Externalizing Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Peer Rejection at School

Previous research has found a strong correlation between children’s academic self-concept and their behavioral problems. The present study examined whether children’s peer rejection moderated the relationship between children’s math and verbal self-concepts and their behavioral problems at school. W...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ylenia Passiatore, Teresa Grimaldi Capitello, Simona De Stasio, Michela Millioni, Simonetta Gentile, Caterina Fiorilli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2017-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01912/full
Description
Summary:Previous research has found a strong correlation between children’s academic self-concept and their behavioral problems. The present study examined whether children’s peer rejection moderated the relationship between children’s math and verbal self-concepts and their behavioral problems at school. We expected that children’s social competence, as measured by peer rejection, moderated the negative effect of low self-concept on children’s externalizing behaviors. Participants were 173 children (males = 93, Mage = 10.31 years, SD = 1.43). The main findings showed that peer rejection moderated the effect of both low verbal and math self-concepts on children’s externalizing behavior. The results are discussed in terms of the protective factor played by children’s social competence reducing the impact of low self-concept on children’s externalizing behaviors.
ISSN:1664-1078