Academic and Nonacademic Self-Concepts: Influence of Recent Life-Change Experiences and Demographic, Social, and Health Variables

Abstract

For 150 undergraduate students (50 men, 100 women) the influences of demographic, social, health, and recent life-change experiences were examined on four facets of academic self-concept and nine facets of nonacademic self-concept. Multiple regression analyses showed that, in general, past academic performance, family structure, and family satisfaction were important predictors of academic self-concept. Family structure, family satisfaction, social satisfaction, mental stress associated with recent life-change experiences, and health factors in general were important predictors of nonacademic self-concept. Recent life-change experiences and mental health were significantly associated, more prominently among subjects who were low on emotional self-concept than those who scored high.