Effects of Ordinal Position on Academic Self-Concept

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine whether a relationship exists between birth order and academic self-concept. While previous studies have not consistently given evidence for such a relationship, it has been suggested that birth-order effects might be related to time of measurement and general cultural milieu. For a sample of 2116 children, academic self-concept was highest among boys but not girls who were only children. It was also generally higher among girls than boys, and generally lower among middle-born than among younger or oldest children. Also evidence indicated academic self-concept declines with age. These findings are discussed, in part, relative to time of measurement.