FEATURES OF THE SELF-CONCEPT OF UNMARRIED WOMEN: AGE DIFFERENCES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32689/maup.psych.2025.3.17Keywords:
self-concept, self-esteem, unmarried women, cognitive schemas, psychological well-beingAbstract
The article presents the results of an empirical study devoted to the investigation of the self-concept of unmarried women in different age groups. The research clarifies the specifics of their self-perception, self-esteem, and functioning of cognitive schemas that shape ideas about the self, one’s own value, and the future. Particular attention is paid to the comparison of age-related differences between women aged 20–29 and 30–40, as well as to the analysis of the influence of emotional, valuebased, and social spheres on their self-concept. A significant part of the research is focused on identifying both resourceful and problematic aspects of self-esteem, which may either contribute to or hinder harmonious personal development. It has been found that younger women are characterized by relative stability and harmony of the self-concept, with reliance on professional and intellectual resources, but with a pronounced orientation toward external approval and high personal standards. Women of an older age group demonstrate greater ambivalence, increased self-criticism, and the activation of dysfunctional cognitive schemas related to emotional support, the reliability of relationships, and life perspectives. A comparison of the two groups made it possible to trace the dynamics of self-concept transformation in adulthood and to identify the key psychological factors influencing its development. The introduction also reviews theoretical approaches to the problem of the self-concept in Ukrainian and international psychology, highlights the importance of self-esteem as a basic regulator of behavior and self-realization, and outlines the relevance of studying this phenomenon in the context of unmarried women. The study is based on the Dembo-Rubinstein Self- Esteem Method, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Young’s Schema Questionnaire, which ensured a comprehensive coverage of the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral levels of the self-concept.
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