The Relationship between Children's Self-Concepts and Family Systems as Analyzed by the Circumplex Model

아동의 자아개념과 가족체계의 기능유형 - Circumplex Model을 중심으로 -

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between children's self-concepts and (1) types of functional family systems. (2) family cohesion and adaptability levels, and (3) the satisfaction of children with their current family systems. The subjects of this study were 347 middle S. E. S. children (168 boys, 179 girls) in grade 6. Analysis of functional family systems was by The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales III(1985) of the Circuplex Model (Olson et al., 1979). The Self-concept Inventory (Lim Jae Leun, 1987) was used to assess children's self-concepts. The data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ and Pearson correlation. It was found that there were no differences in children's self-concepts by types of functional systems. There were differences in children's self-concepts by family cohesion and adaptability levels. That is, the higher the level of cohesion and adaptability the more positive the child's self-concept. The more the child was satisfied with his/her current family system, the more positive the child's self-concept. Children whose family systems were at a high level of family cohesion and adaptability were more satisfied with their current family systems.