Self-Esteem and Relationship with Parents

Summary Recent research on the development of self-esteem suggests the possible significance of the parental relationship for the development of a positive self-concept. In order to explore this phenomenon further, the Dickstein Self-Esteem Scale and a Parent-Child Relationship Inventory designed for this study were administered to 21 boys and 21 girls between the ages of 8 and 11 years. Results confirmed the hypothesis that self-esteem is positively related to the closeness of the parent-child relationship. Analysis of the data according to sex of S revealed important sex differences. Specifically, boys' self-esteem is closely associated with the relationship with the father, but not with the mother. Conversely, girls' self-esteem is closely associated with the relationship with the mother, but not with the father.