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Implicit and Explicit Self-Esteem Discrepancies, Victimization and the Development of Late Childhood Internalizing Problems

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Abstract

Discrepancies between implicit and explicit self-esteem have been linked with internalizing problems among mainly adolescents and adults. Longitudinal research on this association in children is lacking. This study examined the longitudinal link between self-esteem discrepancies and the development of internalizing problems in children. It furthermore examined the possible mediating role of self-esteem discrepancies in the longitudinal link between experiences of peer victimization and internalizing problems development. Children (N = 330, M age = 11.2 year; 52.5 % female) were followed over grades five (age 11 years) and six (age 12 years). Self-report measures were used annually to test for victimization and internalizing problems. Implicit self-esteem was assessed using an implicit association test, while explicit self-esteem was assessed via self-reports. Self-esteem discrepancies represented the difference between implicit and explicit self-esteem. Results showed that victimization was associated with increases in damaged self-esteem (higher levels of implicit than explicit self-esteem. Additionally, damaged self-esteem at age 11 years predicted an increase in internalizing problems in children over ages 11 to 12 years. Furthermore, damaged self-esteem mediated the relationship between age 11 years victimization and the development of internalizing problems. No impact of fragile self-esteem (lower levels of implicit than explicit self-esteem) on internalizing problems was found. The results thus underscore that, as found in adolescent and adult samples, damaged self-esteem is a predictor of increases in childhood internalizing problems. Moreover, damaged self-esteem might explain why children who are victimized develop internalizing problems. Implications are discussed.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental Psychology and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Franca H. Leeuwis, Hans M. Koot & Pol A. C. van Lier

  2. Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands

    Daan H. M. Creemers

  3. Mental Health Care Institute, GGZ Oost Brabant, Oss, The Netherlands

    Daan H. M. Creemers

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  1. Franca H. Leeuwis
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  2. Hans M. Koot
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  3. Daan H. M. Creemers
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Correspondence to Franca H. Leeuwis.

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Leeuwis, F.H., Koot, H.M., Creemers, D.H.M. et al. Implicit and Explicit Self-Esteem Discrepancies, Victimization and the Development of Late Childhood Internalizing Problems. J Abnorm Child Psychol 43, 909–919 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9959-5

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