SELF-PERCEPTION AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - A CLINICAL-DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

The relationship between self-perception and adolescent psychopatholog y was examined on nine domains of self-perception in a group of adoles cent psychiatric inpatients and a comparison group of nonpatients. Inp atients rated themselves significantly lower in four domains, and corr elations between symptom reports and domains of self-perception suppor ted a relationship between negative self-perception and psychopatholog y. Further analysis suggested less differentiated self-perceptions amo ng inpatients than among nonpatients. Implications for developmental a ssessments and clinical interventions are discussed.