SELF-CONCEPT, DELINQUENCY, RELATIONS WITH PARENTS AND SCHOOL AND CHINESE ADOLESCENTS PERCEPTION OF PERSONAL CONTROL

This study examined the relationship between Chinese adolescents' self-concept, delinquency and relations with parents and school and their perception of personal control from a multidimensional perspective. Results showed that external control was associated with low general, academic, and social self-concepts, high delinquency, and poor relations with parents and school. Sex differences were found as predicted. Specifically, external control was related to low academic self-concept in both sexes, but to low appearance, social, and general self-concepts only in girls. A stronger relationship between external control and delinquency in the moderate and low seriousness types as well as overall delinquency was found in girls. The relation of external control to delinquency in the high seriousness type was equally substantial in boys and girls. Moreover, it was also found that girls' sense of external control was more strongly associated with their poor relations with parents and school.