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Subjective quality of life and self-esteem in children: the role of primary and secondary control in coping with everyday stress

journal contribution
posted on 2004-04-01, 00:00 authored by K Marriage, Robert CumminsRobert Cummins
Two major predictors of subjective quality oflife (SQOL) in adults are known to beself-esteem and a sense of primary control.Moreover, secondary control is known to be animportant defence strategy when primary controlfails. This study aimed to determine whetherthese relationships also apply to children. Asample of 66 children aged from 5 to 12 yearswere compared on their use of primary andsecondary control and on their ratings of SQOLand self-esteem. SQOL was measured using theComprehensive Quality of Life Scale,self-esteem by using the CoopersmithSelf-Esteem Inventory, and primary andsecondary control were measured by codingchildren's responses to three short video clipsof children in stressful situations. It wasfound that younger children use more primarycontrol and less secondary control than olderchildren. However, five year olds were foundcapable of producing secondary controlstrategies. Contrary to expectation, primaryand secondary control did not predict eitherself-esteem or SQOL. However, self-esteempredicted SQOL as expected and no sexdifferences were found. These findingsemphasise important differences from the adultliterature and the reasons for this arediscussed.

History

Journal

Social indicators research

Volume

66

Issue

1-2

Pagination

107 - 122

Publisher

Kluwer Academic Publishers

Location

Dordrecht, Netherlands

ISSN

0303-8300

eISSN

1573-0921

Language

eng

Notes

Online Publication Date: 01 July 2006

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2004, Kluwer Academic Publishers

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