Self-concept enhancement : a meta-analysis integrating a multidimensional perspective

![CDATA[A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of interventions designed to enhance self-concept for children and adolescents. The limitations of previous self-concept intervention meta-analyses were avoided by capitalising on advances in self-concept theory to account for the multidimensionality of the self-concept construct, and by incorporating a construct validity approach. A total of 145 primary studies were located. The 200 interventions and 544 effect sizes these studies yielded were found to be effective overall (effect size = .27), and these results did not significantly diminish for studies with a follow-up (effect size = -.01). Importantly, interventions whose focus was on self-concept enhancement had a higher mean effect size (.41) than interventions seeking to increase self-concept indirectly (.18). The multidimensional structure of self-concept was supported by the finding that specific selfconcept facet outcomes most relevant to the intervention had a higher mean effect size (.43) than facets with only secondary (.18) or incidental (.09) relevance to the intervention. In addition, treatment administrator type, the rationale for the intervention, control group type, and group assignment procedure were significant predictors of self concept enhancement. The results have important implications for self-concept interventions and meta-analysis research design pertaining to self-concept research.]]