A Study On The Relationship Among Academic Performance, Social Comparison And Self-Concept Of Pupils

Self-concept, which is the main component of the self, is the perception one has on various aspects about himself. It has a very close relationship with academic performance, mental health and social development. Primary stage is an important period in the development of self-concept. Being in the social environment full of direct competition, pupils always compare himself with others at school so that social comparison is always inevitable among them. And then their self-concept will be affected.Based on the extensive literature and updated findings at home and abroad, this study revises the social comparison features questionnaire of the junior middle school students. Then 493 pupils from Shandong Province are surveyed via questionnaire to explore development features of social comparison and self-concept of primary school students in grades 4 to 6. Through correlation analysis, regression analysis and mediating effect testing, this study explores the relationship among academic performance, social comparison and self-concept. The results are as follows:1. The revised social comparison features questionnaire is very suitable for the pupils group. Psychometric indexes such as reliability and validity are very well. The questionnaire is divided into three factors, respectively named as positive and uplifting, negative and downward, clam reaction. This questionnaire can meet the needs of future researches and applications on pupils'social comparison.2. The phenomenon of social comparison is very common in grades of 4 to 6 in primary school. But the development level of each factor is imbalance. They often compare themselves with the classmates who are better than them in order to achieve self-improvement, but have less downward comparison. The factor of positive and uplifting exists significant differences among grades. The negative and downward factor exists significant differences between gender and among grades. But the interaction of gender and grade don't reach the significant level.3. Elementary students in grades 4 to 6 are characterized by very positive self-concept, and most of them have a high level of self-concept. There are significant gender differences in reading, mathematics, exercise capacity and parent-child relationship. There are significant grade differences in physical appearance and parent-child relationship. The interaction of gender and grade are not significant.4. There are significant relationships among academic performance, social comparison and self-concept of elementary students in grades 4 to 6. Academic self-concept, non-academic self-concept and overall self-concept are related with academic performance, social comparison and its factors. The relations between academic performance and social comparison (including its factors) are also significant.5. Academic performance, social comparison and their factors can predict academic self-concept, non-academic self-concept and overall self-concept significantly. Academic performance can also predict social comparison and its three factors significantly.6. Social comparison plays an intermediary role in academic performance on the impact of self-concept. This role is achieved by positive and uplifting factor and the negative and downward factor. The mediating effect of clam reaction factor is not significant.