The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory as a Predictor of Feelings and Communication Satisfaction toward Parents among Learning Disabled,Emotionally Disturbed,and Normal Adolescents

Abstract

This study examined (1) the predictive validity of the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSI) relative to each of the criterion measures representing communication satisfaction toward each parent as measured by Bienvenu's Adolescent Communication Inventory and feelings toward each parent as measured by Low-man's Inventory of Family Feelings and (2) the differential validity of the self-esteem, communication satisfaction, and feelings toward each parent measures serving as predictor variables of the nominal criterion measure of learning disabled (LD), emotionally disturbed (ED), and normal (N) adolescents. The sample included 60 adolescents with 20 in each of the three groups (LD, ED, or N). In fulfilling the first purpose, Pearson correlation coefficients were determined which revealed that the self-esteem measure was significantly correlated with the mother communication satisfaction measure (r = .74, p <.01) and the feelings toward mothers measure (r = .56, p <.01). Relative to the second purpose, discriminant analysis procedures revealed significant results for one function (Canonical correlation = .74, X ² = 46.30, Wilk's Lambda = .42, df = 14, p <.001). The self-esteem, mother communication satisfaction, and feelings toward mother measures were significant discriminators (all p <.01) between the LD and N and the ED and N groups. No significant differences were apparant between the LD and ED groups. The results provided some support for the validity of the CSI. It was recommended that replication and cross-validation studies be conducted.

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