Self-esteem: A study on the relationship between self-esteem and factors affecting student life
- Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care
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Dr. Swati Y Bhave,1
Meghana Pradeep,2
Jill
Mota,3
Dr. Shailaja Mane,4
Dr. Latika Bhalla,5
Dr. Prashant Karia6
Abstract
Objective: 1) To assess self-esteem scores in college students. 2) To study the effects of various variables on self-esteem scores.
Method: In this study by AACCI, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) scale was
used (n = 354; age range: 17-21 yrs.; M= 18.63 yrs., SD = 1.06 yrs) self-esteem and its
relationship with age, sibling status, academic course, engagement in extracurricular
activities, self-perceived internet and social media usage and dependence, substance use,
and self-perception of control over one’s life in an all-women’s college in North India. The
data were analysed using t-tests and one-way ANOVAs.
Results: Majority (76.27%) of the group has low scores (10-24), a minority (23.73%) have
moderate scores (25-35) and no (0%) participants have high scores (36-40). Low RSES
scores were seen in those participating in interschool/college competitions (n=77, 28.52%)
(M = 23.922, SD = 1.403) vs those who did not (n=193, 71.48%) (M = 23.378, SD =
1.383), {t (268) = 2.905, p = 0.002}. Participants who engaged in interschool/ college sports
competitions (n=15, 17.86%) (M = 26.333, SD = 0.617) had significantly higher moderate
scores vs those who did (n=69, 82.14%) (M = 26.855, SD = 1.061), {t (82) = 1.833, p =
0.035.} Significantly lower scores were seen in participants using social media (n=255,
94.44%) (M = 23.596, SD = 1.368) as compared to participants who did not (n=15, 5.56%)
(M = 22.467, SD = 1.685), {t (268) = 3.066, p = 0.001}. Other demographic variables had
no statistically significant effects (p >0.05).
Conclusion: Participation in extracurricular activities improved self-esteem in students.
Social media usage significantly impacted self-esteem negatively. Most participants had
low to moderate self-esteem scores. None had high scores. AACCI recommended a session
of Life Skill Education with special emphasis on self-esteem.
Keywords
self-esteem, extracurricular activities, social media, adolescent, young adults, maturational changes
