Twins have slightly higher self-concepts than singletons in the elementary school period: A study of South Korean twins and singletons

Abstract

The twin method assumes that the trait under study is similar in twins and singletons so that the results from twin samples can be generalized to the singleton population. The purpose of the present study was to compare self-concept in twins and singletons matched in parental level of education. The 6 cluster scales of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (P-H) were administered to 630 singleton children and 635 twins aged 7 to 12 years. Model-fitting analyses yielded two conclusions. First, self-concept was generally similar between first- and second-born twins and between monozygotic and dizygotic twins across the 6 cluster scales of the P-H. Second, twins consistently exceeded singletons for all 6 cluster scales of the P-H. However, the effect sizes of differences between twins and singletons were small except for one scale, Physical Appearance and Attributes.