SELF-CRITICISM AT AGE 12 - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF ADJUSTMENT

This study employed a prospective longitudinal design to investigate t he relation between self-criticism at age 12 and later adjustment. Arc hival data were available for subjects in the Sears, Maccoby, and Levi n (1957) study. Self-criticism at age 12 predicted involvement in fewe r high school activities and, at age 31, fewer years of education comp leted, lower occupational status in men, dissatisfaction with primary relationship (p = .10), dissatisfaction with being a parent, and perso nal/social maladjustment. However, self-critics were not less likely t o marry nor did they marry later or have fewer children. The results w ere largely consistent with Blatt's lifespan development perspective o n self-criticism. Possible processes linking self-criticism in early a dolescence to later life outcomes are discussed.