Relationship of Divorce to Self-Concept, Self-Esteem, and Grade Point Average of Fifth and Sixth Grade School Children

Abstract

61 children (33 in Grade 5 and 28 in Grade 6) participated and were administered the Piers-Harris Self-concept Test, the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory—School Form, and the Children's Depression Inventory. At the end of the school year grade point averages (GPAs; 12-point scale) were calculated and Iowa Tests of Basic Skills were taken from their transcripts. Among the 58, 21 children were from divorced homes (10 girls and 11 boys) and 37 were from nondivorced homes (21 girls and 16 boys). Other subjects' data were not used because some data were missing. Children from divorced homes scored significantly lower on the self-concept test, self-esteem tests, and GPAs than children from nondivorced homes, although both scores would be considered average. Girls had significantly higher GPAs than boys. Children from divorced homes scored significantly higher on the Children's Depression Inventory than children from nondivorced homes, but there were no significant effects for the composite score from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills for marital status of parents. Present results agree with prior observations that divorce has negative effects upon the children involved.