Stability of Global Self-Evaluations in Early Adolescence: A Cohort Longitudinal Study

Abstract

This study is mainly concerned with the stability (i.e., relative longitudinal consistency) of individual differences in global self-esteem in early adolescence. In the first part, stability data from a large cohort longitudinal study were presented. Approximately 2,400 subjects were followed over 2 1/2 years, yielding a total of 4.2 stability coefficients. These coefficients were then compared with 21 stability coefficients from previously published studies. We concluded that the expected stability of global self-esteem is high for relatively short time intervals (up to 1 year or so), but it declines somewhat rapidly and is considerably lower at intervals of approximately 3 years. There was also a trend for stability coefficients with a fixed time interval to be higher in older than in younger subjects. These results were interpreted as providing support for a gradual consolidation hypothesis, implying that experiences are likely to have decreasing impact with age. In all, approximately 70% of the variance in stability coefficients could be predicted with time interval, age, sex, and the Sex × Time Interval interaction as predictors.