Defensiveness as a Covariate in the Assessment of Self-Concept Change

A study was conducted to determine: (1) the extent to which changes of self-report scores (between pretest and post-test) on a measure of defensiveness were related to changes of self-report scores (between pretest and post-test) on a measure of self-concept; and (2) if changes of self-report scores on a measure of defensiveness as covariates would significantly adjust changes of self-report scores on a measure of self-concept. The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale was used; the (openness to) "self-criticism scale was used as the measure of defensiveness, and the "total positive" score was used as the measure of self-concept. Data were drawn from treatment and control groups of Navajo boarding school adolescents (the treatment group participated in an individualized physical education program). Changes in scores for defensiveness correlated to an extent significantly greater than zero with changes in self-concept scores in both groups. Analysis of variance revealed that: (1) scores from the treatment group changed significantly more in the defensive direction than in the control group; and (2) the mean score change for self-concept in the treatment group was not significantly different from the mean change in the control group. The extent of increase in defensiveness scores tended to cancel out the change in self-concept scores. (KM)