Self-Consciousness Scales for Children SCS-C

Abstract

The Self-Consciousness Scales for Children (SCS-C) is an adaptation of the original Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS) developed by Fenigstein, Scheier, and Buss (1975). The SCS-C, notably refined and validated for younger populations by Abrams (1988), is a psychological scale designed to measure individual differences in the chronic dispositional tendency toward self-focused attention in children and adolescents. The instrument differentiates between three core dimensions: Private Self-Consciousness, Public Self-Consciousness, and Social Anxiety. Its primary utility lies in studying developmental aspects of self-awareness and its impact on social functioning.

Keywords

Self-Consciousness, Private Self-Consciousness, Public Self-Consciousness, Social Anxiety, Children, Adolescent, Psychological Scale, Self-Awareness.

Authors

The original adult scale authors were Fenigstein, A., Scheier, M. R., and Buss, A. H. (1975). The adaptation and validation for children is primarily attributed to Abrams, D. (1988). Subsequent psychometric work was conducted by Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1985) and Higa, C. K., Phillips, L. K., Chorpita, B. F., & Daleiden, E. L. (2008).

Purpose

The fundamental purpose of the SCS-C is to provide a reliable measure of the propensity for self-focused attention in younger populations, which is theorized to be a stable personality trait. By dissecting self-consciousness into private and public components, researchers can investigate how internal reflection versus external presentation influences behavioral and emotional outcomes during childhood and early adolescence.

Specifically, the scale aims to quantify the degree to which a child habitually attends to their inner states (Private SC), is concerned with how they appear to others (Public SC), and experiences discomfort or distress in social settings (Social Anxiety). This differentiation is crucial for understanding the etiology of various internalizing disorders.

Construct

The SCS-C measures the latent construct of Self-Consciousness, defined as the stable tendency to be aware of the self. This construct is multidimensional, encompassing three distinct factors:

• Private Self-Consciousness: The awareness of covert, internal aspects of the self, such as thoughts, feelings, motives, and internal standards. Items related to this subscale focus on introspection and self-examination.
• Public Self-Consciousness: The awareness of overt, public aspects of the self, focusing on physical appearance, mannerisms, and the impression one is making on others. Individuals high in this trait are often concerned with social evaluation.
• Social Anxiety: The emotional response to being the center of attention or being evaluated by others. Although related to Public Self-Consciousness, Social Anxiety is treated as a distinct component reflecting the affective discomfort associated with public scrutiny rather than just the cognitive awareness of it.

Validity

The Validity of the SCS-C is generally supported by its ability to replicate the factor structure of the adult SCS (Fenigstein et al., 1975) when adapted for children. Studies, such as those by Abrams (1988) and Higa et al. (2008), have demonstrated its construct validity through correlations with related psychological measures.

Specifically, Private Self-Consciousness is expected to correlate positively with measures of internalizing symptoms and introspection, while Public Self-Consciousness and Social Anxiety show strong correlations with externalizing behaviors, fear of negative evaluation, and social inhibition. The discriminant validity is maintained by showing that the three subscales, while related, measure unique aspects of the self-consciousness domain.

Reliability

The Reliability of the SCS-C subscales has been investigated using internal consistency measures (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) and test-retest methods. Abrams (1988) reported acceptable levels of internal consistency for the Private SC, Public SC, and Social Anxiety subscales in child and adolescent samples, suggesting that the items within each subscale consistently measure the intended construct.

Subsequent psychometrics research, including the 2008 study by Higa and colleagues, further supported the reliability of the scale structure in young adolescents, confirming its suitability for research applications requiring stable measurement across time.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis of the SCS-C, consistent with the adult version, typically yields a three-factor solution corresponding to Private Self-Consciousness, Public Self-Consciousness, and Social Anxiety. This structure indicates that the 23 primary items cluster predictably into these three distinct dimensions.

The item structure detailed in the source material confirms this three-factor model: Private Self-Consciousness includes items focusing on internal reflection (e.g., Item 1, 5, 15); Public Self-Consciousness includes items related to external appearance and impression management (e.g., Item 2, 6, 11); and Social Anxiety includes items describing discomfort in social settings (e.g., Item 4, 10, 16).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Psychological Scale

Format: 5-point Likert Scale

Language Available: Primarily English (Likely translated for specific research uses)

Population Group: Children and Adolescents

Age Group: Typically utilized with school-age children through young adolescents (e.g., 8 to 16 years old).

Population Details: Used in clinical and non-clinical samples to assess stable personality traits related to self-focus.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the extent to which each statement is characteristic of them, using the scale where 1 = “Strongly Disagree” and 5 = “Strongly Agree.” Specific items are reverse-scored (e.g., Item 3, 9, 12). The instrument is often administered in a paper-and-pencil format.

Keywords

Self-Consciousness, Private Self-Consciousness, Public Self-Consciousness, Social Anxiety, Personality Assessment, Psychometrics, Child Development, Validity, Reliability.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale is an adaptation of a widely used academic instrument, often available for non-commercial research purposes without fee, provided appropriate citation is given to the original authors (Fenigstein et al., 1975) and the children’s adaptation (Abrams, 1988). The adaptation and validation work for the SCS-C were published by Abrams in 1988.

The instrument itself, based on the revised version for general populations, can be found on pages 691-692 of the article “The self-consciousness scale: A revised version for use with general populations.” The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.psy.cmu.edu/faculty/scheier/scales/SCSR_article.pdf

Reference’s

• Abrams‚ D. (1988). Self-consciousness scales for adults and children: Reliability‚ validity‚ and theoretical significance. European Journal of Personality‚ 2‚ 11–37.
• Fenigstein‚ A.‚ Scheier‚ M. R.‚ & Buss‚ A. H. (1975). Public and private self-consciousness: assessment and theory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology‚ 43‚ 522–527.
• Scheier‚ M. F.‚ & Carver‚ C. S. (1985). The self-consciousness scale: A revised version for use with general populations. Journal of Applied Social Psychology‚ 15(8)‚ 687-699.
• Higa‚ C. K.‚ Phillips‚ L. K.‚ Chorpita‚ B. F.‚ & Daleiden. E. L. (2008). The Structure of Self-Consciousness in Children and Young Adolescents and Relations to Social Anxiety. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment‚ 30(4): 261-271.

Items of the Self-Consciousness Scales for Children SCS-C

Scoring Key: 1 = “Strongly Disagree;” 5 = “Strongly Agree “

Private Self-Consciousness: items (1‚ 3 (R)‚ 5‚ 7‚ 9 (R)‚ 13‚ 15‚ 18‚ 20‚ and 22)

Public Self-Consciousness: items ( 2‚ 6‚ 11‚ 14‚ 17‚ 19‚ and 21)

Social Anxiety: items (4‚ 8‚ 10‚ 12 (R)‚ 16‚ and 23)

1. I’m always trying to figure myself out
2. I’m concerned about my style of doing things
3. Generally‚ I’m not very aware of myself
4. It takes me time to overcome my shyness in new situations
5. I reflect about myself a lot
6. I’m concerned about the way I present myself
7. I’m often the subject of my own fantasies
8. I have trouble working when someone is watching me
9. I never scrutinize myself
10. I get embarrassed very easily
11. I’m self-conscious about the way I look
12. I don’t find it hard to talk to strangers
13. I’m generally attentive to my inner feelings
14. I usually worry about making a good impression
15. I’m constantly examining my own motives
16. I feel anxious when I speak in front of a group
17. One of the last things I do before I leave my house is look in the mirror
18. I sometimes have the feeling that I’m off somewhere watching myself
19. I’m concerned about what other people think of me
20. I’m alert to changes in my mood
21. I’m usually aware of my appearance
22. I’m aware of the way my mind works when I work through a problem
23. Large groups make me nervous

Additional Items Cited (Abrams 1988):

• I always say what I think PrSC
• I’m always sure about what I think PrSC
• I compare myself with other people a lot PuSC
• I like to be the same as my friends PuSC
• It is better to agree with people than to argue about what you think PuSC