Educational differences in self-perceptions of adolescents in Northern Ireland

Self-perceptions of children from the integrated school sector in Northern Ireland were compared with those of children attending religiously segregated schools. In a cross-sectional study, the self-perceptions of 546 boys and girls aged 11–13 years and 14–15 years, at two integrated comprehensive and five segregated post-primary schools in Northern Ireland, were measured using the Self-Perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985). The results of a School Type (2) × Year Group (3) × Gender (2) × Religion (2) MANCOVA, controlling for social class and ethos of schools, demonstrated a significant main effect for school type, with significant univariate effects favouring those at the integrated schools in the domains of physical appearance (p <.01), social acceptance (p <.01) global self-worth (p <.05), and athletic competence (p <.05). No evidence of a School Type × Year Group interaction suggests that these differences existed on entrance to the two types of school. A main effect for gender, favouring boy...