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The Discrepancy between Mother and Youth Reported Internalizing Symptoms Predicts Youth’s Negative Self-Esteem

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Abstract

In the field of child and adolescent psychopathology, discrepancy among informants (e.g., mother and child) is common. Discrepancies are an important topic of research as assessments utilize multiple informants, which guild clinicians’ diagnostic, treatment, and research decisions. The difference score between mothers and youth report of internalizing disorders, broadly, has been found to be associated with youth’s negative self-esteem. However, the relationship among these variables has only been examined through the use of difference scores, which have significant limitations. The current study aimed to examine whether the discrepancy between maternal- and self-reported withdrawn and anxious/depressed symptoms (respectively) would be predictive of youths’ self-reported negative self-esteem. We extend the literature by utilizing polynomial regressions to examine the linear and curvilinear main effects and interactions between mother and youth report. One-hundred and fifty-one child-mother dyads (age range, 11–17 years; Mage = 12.98 ± 2.42 years; 82 males and 69 females) were administered the Child-Behavior Checklist, Child Depression Inventory, and Youth Self-Report scale. Our results supported our hypotheses; when mothers and youth disagreed on the respective internalizing symptoms, youth were more likely to report lower self-esteem (higher negative self-esteem). The implications and limitations of the current study are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 236 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Peter J. Castagna, Matthew Calamia & Thompson E. Davis III

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  1. Peter J. Castagna
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  2. Matthew Calamia
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Correspondence to Peter J. Castagna.

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Castagna, P.J., Calamia, M. & Davis, T.E. The Discrepancy between Mother and Youth Reported Internalizing Symptoms Predicts Youth’s Negative Self-Esteem. Curr Psychol 40, 5312–5321 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00501-9

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