Ego development, self-perception, and self-complexity in adolescence: A study of female psychiatric inpatients

A study of two groups of female psychiatric inpatients, differing in level of ego development, explored domains of self-perception that best predicted global self-worth and symptom clusters that best predicted second-order fa ctors of self perception. Findings revealed quantitative and quantitative d ifferences in self-complexities, and more positive self-perceptions among t he higher ego-level group in scholastic competence, job competence, and beh avioral conduct. Results are discussed from a developmental perspective.