Adolescents own perceptions of self-evaluation: Self esteem, self efficacy and life satisfaction

Abstract

In this study we analyse the relationships between three variablesof self-evaluations, being self esteem, self efficacy and life satisfaction. Moreover, we study the evolution of these three aspects during adolescence paying attention to gender differences. The sample was made up of 2400 teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years old taken from 20 high schools in Western Andalusia. In this study we also analyse the relationship between teenager self evaluation and parenting style. Our results show, on one hand, high correlation between self esteem, self efficacy and life satisfaction, and on the other hand, between teenager self evaluationand parenting style. In fact, parental warmth and communication and sense of humor show high correlation with adolescent self evaluation. We also found increasing differences between boys and girls as regards their self esteem, self efficacy and life satisfaction as adolescence progressed. Specifically, little changedwas observed in boys, whereas girls’ self-evaluation decreased with age.

Keywords

• Self esteem
• self efficacy
• life satisfaction
• parenting style
• gender