Self-perception and adolescent psychopathology: a clinical-developmental perspective.

The relationship between self-perception and adolescent psychopathology was examined on nine domains of self-perception in a group of adolescent psychiatric inpatients and a comparison group of nonpatients. Inpatients rated themselves significantly lower in four domains, and correlations between symptom reports and domains of self-perception supported a relationship between negative self-perception and psychopathology. Further analysis suggested less differentiated self-perceptions among inpatients than among nonpatients. Implications for developmental assessments and clinical interventions are discussed.