FAMILY-RELATIONS AND THE SELF-CONCEPTS OF AFRICAN ADOLESCENTS - GENDER-RELATED DIFFERENCES

This study examines gender differences in perceived parental behaviors and self-concepts among Black African adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa. Four hundred ninety-six boys and girls were administered the Perceived Parental Behavior Inventory and the Self-Description Invento ry. No significant differences were found between boys and girls on th e three domains of the Perceived Parental Behavior Inventory. On the S elf-Description Inventory, however, boys scored higher than girls on r elations with family, physical abilities, emotional stability, relatio ns with peers dimensions as well as global self-concept. Girls had a h igher mean score on music ability dimension than did boys. Significant positive relationships were found between perceived parental behavior s and specific dimensions of self-concept between boys and girls, but the magnitude of the relationships between the two variables was stron ger among boys than among girls. The view that family relationships ar e a significant influence on the development of self-concepts of adole scents, regardless of the gender of the individual, is supported in th is study.