Longitudinal invariance of measurement and structure of global self-concept: a population-based study examining trajectories among adolescents with and without chronic illness.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Chedoke Site, Central Building, Room 310, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1. ferroma@mcmaster.ca
The objectives of this study were to determine whether a measure of global self-concept demonstrated longitudinal measurement invariance between adolescents aged 10-19 years with and without chronic illness and to document differences in their global self-concept trajectories over time.
Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (N = 10,064). Global self-concept was measured using a scale based on the Self-Determination Questionnaire.
16 percent of adolescents had chronic illness. There was evidence of partial longitudinal invariance in global self-concept between adolescents with and without chronic illness. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, adolescents with a chronic illness exhibited lower levels of global self-concept and more precipitous declines over time.
The results from this study suggest that comparisons of global self-concept between adolescents with and without chronic illness are meaningful and, compared to healthy controls, adolescents with chronic illness are at risk for low global self-concept.