Gender and Age Factors in Self Image Discrepancy of Young Adolescents: Implications for Counselling.

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between self-image discrepancy and (a) gender and (b) age. A sample of 167 students aged eleven to fifteen years completed the real self-concept and the ideal self-concept questionnaires. Self-image discrepancy is measure of the difference between these two self-constructs. From the results, boys when compared with girls had lower self-image discrepancy scores. The difference was accounted for by high ideal self-concept scores recorded by girls, for gender did not have any significant influence on the real self concept scores. Age was also found not to have any significant connections with the level of self image discrepancy. These findings suggest that girls need more counselling in the areas of self acceptance and realistic goal setting.

The Nigerian Journal Of Guidance And Counselling Vol. 7 (1) 2000: pp. 42-50