THE EFFECT OF SELF-ESTEEM, FAMILY-STRUCTURE, LOCUS OF CONTROL, AND CAREER GOALS ON ADOLESCENT LEADERSHIP-BEHAVIOR

Since leadership in formal and informal high school activities is one possible indicator of positive social adjustment among adolescents, it is worthwhile to better understand why certain adolescents become lea ders and others do not. This study was designed to investigate the rel ationship between leadership behavior (dependent variable) and self-es teem, locus of control, family structure, and career goals. The partic ipants were divided into a leadership group (n = 79) and a nonleadersh ip (comparison) group (n = 124). Adolescents in the leadership group t ended to be higher in internal locus of control, to live in a two-pare nt family structure, and to have more prestigious career goals. There was no significant difference between the two groups in level of self- esteem, although those in the leadership group with higher self-esteem also tended to have higher career goals.