Self-discrepancy in adolescence: Own and parental standpoints on the self

Adolescence is a period of growth in the capacity to represent multiple perspectives on the self. The capacity to represent multiple perspectives may increase the risk of detecting self-discrepancies. This article examines if self-discrepancy is predictive of functioning and if there are gender difference in relation to self-discrepancy and psychological functioning (internalizing and externalizing problems). 41 males and 47 females (aged 14–18 yrs) participated in the study. Ss completed the Selves Questionnaire and the Youth Self-Report. Results confirmed that self-discrepancy, independent of actual-self positivity, was predictive of internalizing and externalizing problems. For adolescent girls, discrepancy with parental standards predicted functioning, regardless of whether these standards were adopted as their own or not. Discrepancy with self-standards that were independent from parents also predicted externalizing problems in girls. For adolescent boys, discrepancy with independent standards, but not parental standards, predicted internalizing problems. The authors suggest that the relevance of own vs parental standards for self-regulation is gender specific.