Chapter 43
Self-Concept
Self-Concept
 Self-concept is an individual’s perception
of self and is what helps make each
individual unique.
 Positive and negative self-assessments
in the physical, emotional, intellectual,
and functional dimensions change over
time.
 Self-concept affects the ability to function
and greatly influences health status.
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Components of Self-Concept
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Identity
Body image
Self-esteem
Role performance
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Interrelationship of Components
of Self-Concept
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Components of Self-Concept
 A sense of personal identity is what sets
one person apart as a unique individual.
 Identity includes a person’s name,
gender, ethnic identity, family status,
occupation, and roles.
 One’s personal identity begins to develop
during childhood and is constantly
reinforced and modified throughout life.
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Components of Self-Concept
 Body image is an attitude about one’s
physical attributes and characteristics,
appearance, and performance.
 Body image is dynamic because any
change in body structure or function,
including the normal changes of growth
and development, can affect it.
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Components of Self-Concept
 Self-Ideal is the perception of behavior
based on personal standards and selfexpectations.
 Self-ideal serves as an internal regulator
to support self-respect and self-esteem.
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Components of Self-Concept
 Self-esteem is the judgment of personal
performance compared with the selfideal.
 Self-esteem is derived from a sense of
giving and receiving love, and being
respected by others.
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Components of Self-Concept
 Role refers to a set of expected
behaviors determined by familial, cultural,
and social norms.
 The level of self-esteem is dependent
upon the self-perception of adequate role
performance in these various social
roles.
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Components of Self-Concept
 Stressors Affecting Role Performance
- Role overload
- Role conflict
• Whenever a person is unable to fulfill role
responsibilities, self-concept is impaired.
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Development of Self-Concept
 Self-concept evolves throughout life and
depends to an extent on an individual’s
developmental level.
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Development of Self-Concept
 Childhood
• A child’s sense of self is shaped by
interactions with parents and siblings,
through shared experiences with extended
family members, and relationships with
others.
• Their sense of self changes as they move
through each developmental stage.
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Development of Self-Concept
 Adolescence
• The numerous changes in physical,
emotional, and psychosocial status during
the adolescent years bring about rapid and
often continuous changes in self-concept.
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Development of Self-Concept
 Adulthood
• The adult’s perception of self continues to
develop and change as an individual
progresses through the adult years.
• Periods of relative stability may be
interspersed with realizations of physical
changes, as well as changes in roles and
responsibilities.
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Factors Affecting Self-Concept
 Altered Health Status
 Developmental Transitions
 Experience
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Assessment
 Consider both the client’s developmental
level and chronological age when
assessing self-concept.
 Determine the client’s perception of selfconcept and the factors affecting it.
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Assessment
 Assess the client’s strengths to be used
as a foundation on which to build
therapeutic interventions.
• Maintain appropriate relationships
• Care for self in order to meet basic needs
• Adapt to stressors in a positive manner
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Nursing Diagnoses
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Disturbed Body Image
Parental Role Conflict
Disturbed Personal Identity
Ineffective Role Performance
Chronic Low Self-Esteem
Situational Low Self-Esteem
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Nursing Diagnoses
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Disturbed Personal Identity
Anxiety
Social Isolation
Hopelessness
Powerlessness
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Outcome Identification and
Planning
 Outcome statements reflect specific
behavior that is measurable and that has
an appropriate time frame for evaluation.
 The nurse and client develop mutually
established objectives. This encourages
the client to assume an active role in
recovery.
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Implementation
 Initiate Therapeutic Interaction
 Support Healthy Defense Mechanisms
 Ensure Satisfaction of Needs
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Physical needs
Psychosocial needs
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Implementation
 Promote positive self-esteem across the
life span
• Childhood
• Adolescence
• Adulthood
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Evaluation
 A client’s behavior and attitudes will
reflect the degree of progress toward
restoring an altered self-concept.
 The nurse must reconsider the alignment
of the client’s targeted self-concept with
the plan of care to assess if the two are
still congruent.
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Evaluation
 Because self-concept is based on
personal attitudes and feelings, it often
requires months or even years to
change.
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