A multidimensional perspective of relations between self-concept (Self Description Questionnaire II) and adolescent mental health (Youth Self-Report)

Relations between self-concept and mental health are best understood from a multidimensional perspective. For responses by 903 adolescents (mean age = 12.6) to a new French translation of the Self Description Questionnaire 11 (SDQII), confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a well-defined multidimensional factor Structure of reliable, highly differentiated self concept factors. Correlations between I I SDQII factors and 7 mental health problems (Youth Self-Report: YSR) varied Substantially (.11 to factors could not explain relations among SDQII factors .83: mean 1 -.35). Single higher-order I among, YSR factors, or between the SDQII and YSR factors. This highly differentiated multivariate pattern of relations supports a multidimensional perspective of self-concept, not the unidimensional perspective still prevalent in mental health research and assessment.