Self-concept in children: Equivalence of measurement and structure across gender and grade of Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Children

In this study, we tested a Dutch version of Harter's (1985) Self-Perception Profile for Children for equivalence of measurement and structure across gender and age (grade), using the LISREL confirmatory factor analytic model. The sample consisted of 758 Flemish 4th, 5th, and 6th graders (8-13 years old, M = 10.5 years old). Support was found for equivalence of structure for boys and girls, for 4th and 5th graders, and for 5th and 6th graders. Equivalence of measurement was only partially found. The relation between items and factors was invariant across gender and grade. The error of measurement however was not equivalent, indicating that the items had not the same reliability for boys and girls and across all grade groups.