Diferencias de género y edad en autoconcepto en estudiantes adolescentes chilenos Gender and age differences in self-concept in Chilean adolescent students

Previous researches have high- lighted the importance of the study of self-con- cept in adolescence. The aim of this study was to analyse gender and age differences in several dimensions of the self-concept. The sample in- cluded 1414 Chilean students between 13 and 18 years old. The self-concept was assessed us- ing the SDQII-Short form. Results revealed that girls scored significantly higher in Verbal, Physical Appearance, Honesty-Trustworthi- ness and Self-esteem self-concepts, whereas boys got higher scores in Maths, Physical Abil- ity, Emotional Stability and Parents Relations self-concepts. It was also observed that older students scored higher in general Academic Self-concept, Physical Ability, Physical Ap- pearance, Opposite Sex Relations and Self-es- teem than their younger peers. This same pattern, but the other way round, was obtained for Maths, Verbal and Emotional Stability di- mensions. The outcomes did not argue the ten- dency for men, reported in previous studies, to value more positively their physical appearance and to own higher self-esteem than women, as well as perceive more negatively their parent- child relationships.