Relations between specific and global domains of self-concept. A substantive methodological synergy

Self-concept refers to how people feel about themselves. In self-concept research there is ongoing debate about the relative importance of self-concept in specific areas (eg, physical, social, academic) and global self-concept (or self-esteem), and how they are related.
Substantively, we ask how the effects of specific components of self (eg, physical, social, academic) effect global self-esteem depend on two framing factors.
1. Actual-Ideal Discrepancy. If ideal standards are too high, even good accomplishments can result in low self-esteem.
2. Importance. The more important is a specific component of self-concept, the more impact it has on self-esteem.
Despite the intuitive appeal of these two theoretical predictions and much research, there is little support for either. We propose to address this gap between theory and research with new latent-variable models based on multiple indicators (items) that control for measurement error; a methodological-substantive synergy.
Study 1 focuses on actual-ideal discrepancy in relation to physical components of self-concept (appearance, physical ability, physical self-concept) and global self-esteem. Study 2 focuses on actual-ideal discrepancy and importance of self components in relation to various specific (math and verbal, appearance and physical ability self-concepts), domain (academic, physical, spiritual self-concepts) and global (self-esteem) levels of self-concept.

自我概念（Self-concept）指个体对自身的认知与感受。在自我概念研究领域，学界对特定领域自我概念（如身体、社交、学业层面）与整体自我概念（或自尊）的相对重要性及其关联机制的争论从未停歇。
从实质层面，我们探讨特定自我成分（如身体、社交、学业）对整体自尊的影响如何依赖于两个框架性因素。
1. 现实-理想差异（Actual-Ideal Discrepancy）：若理想标准过高，即便取得不错的成就也可能导致低自尊。
2. 重要性：特定自我概念成分的重要性越高，其对自尊的影响就越大。
尽管这两项理论预测具有直观吸引力且相关研究颇丰，但二者均缺乏充分实证支持。为此，我们提出采用基于多指标（条目）的新型潜变量模型来弥合理论与研究间的鸿沟——该模型可控制测量误差，实现方法与实质的协同增效。
研究1聚焦于现实-理想差异与自我概念身体成分（外貌、运动能力、身体自我概念）及整体自尊的关联。研究2则探讨现实-理想差异与自我成分重要性，及其与不同层级自我概念的关系——包括特定层面（数学与语言、外貌与运动能力自我概念）、领域层面（学业、身体、精神自我概念）及整体层面（自尊）。