Mixed-Sex Settings and the Perception of Competence

• Published in: Journal of youth and adolescence Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 461 - 480
• Main Authors: Darling, Nancy, Dowdy, Bonnie B., Van Horn, M. Lee, Caldwell, Linda L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Plenum Press 01.08.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescents; Body image; Child development; Child psychology; Children & youth; Coping; Dating (Social); Early Adolescents; Elementary School Students; Emotions; Extracurricular activities; Factors; Females; Friendship; Gender differences; Girls; Grade 8; Hypotheses; Interpersonal Competence; Interpersonal relationships; Junior High School Students; Leisure; Leisure Time; Males; Middle Schools; Mixed sex; Opposite Sex Relations; Peer Groups; Peer Relations; Peers; Perceptions; Personal relationships; Puberty; Self Concept; Self Esteem; Self image; Selfperception; Sex Differences; Skills; Social Competence; Social Environment; Social interaction; Social life & customs; Social Networks; Students; Teenagers; USA
• ISSN: 0047-2891; 1573-6601
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1021617007981

This study examines the association of self-perceptions with sixth to eighth graders' exposure to mixed-sex and dating contexts. It contrasts two hypotheses: the stress hypothesis, which suggests that the transition to romantic relationships will be associated with declines in self-esteem, especially for girls, and the leisure hypothesis, which suggests that movement into a desired role in an emotionally positive social context will be associated with positive emotions and higher self-esteem.